Maternal and child health: atonic postpartum haemorrhage: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · Maternal and child health: atonic postpartum haemorrhage

Sample item

A woman bleeds heavily after delivery, and the uterus is soft and boggy. What is the first step?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Uterine massage and oxytocin

A soft boggy uterus indicates atony, the commonest cause of postpartum haemorrhage. First-line steps are bimanual uterine massage and a uterotonic such as oxytocin, with fluids. Surgical steps follow when these fail.

Option by option

  • A. Uterine massage and oxytocin (correct)

    Correct. Massage and uterotonics treat atony.

  • B. Waiting to see if bleeding stops

    Waiting risks fatal blood loss.

  • C. Hysterectomy

    Hysterectomy is a last resort.

  • D. Packing with gauze

    Packing comes after medical measures fail.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Uterine massage and oxytocin. A soft boggy uterus indicates atony, the commonest cause of postpartum haemorrhage.

Why is "Waiting to see if bleeding stops" not the answer?

Waiting risks fatal blood loss.

Why is "Hysterectomy" not the answer?

Hysterectomy is a last resort.

Why is "Packing with gauze" not the answer?

Packing comes after medical measures fail.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal and child health: atonic postpartum haemorrhage in PSM. First-line steps are bimanual uterine massage and a uterotonic such as oxytocin, with fluids. Surgical steps follow when these fail.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal and child health: atonic postpartum haemorrhage?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.