Intestinal obstruction: practice question

A General Surgery 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

General Surgery · Intestinal obstruction

Sample item

What is the commonest cause of small bowel obstruction in adults?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Postoperative adhesions

Adhesions from previous abdominal surgery are the leading cause of small bowel obstruction, followed by hernias and tumours. Intussusception is mainly a childhood condition and gallstone ileus is rare.

Option by option

  • A. Intussusception

    Intussusception is mainly seen in infants and young children.

  • B. Volvulus

    Volvulus is more common in the large bowel, particularly the sigmoid.

  • C. Gallstone ileus

    Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause in elderly patients with gallstones.

  • D. Postoperative adhesions (correct)

    Correct. A history of abdominal surgery is the key clue.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Postoperative adhesions. Adhesions from previous abdominal surgery are the leading cause of small bowel obstruction, followed by hernias and tumours.

Why is "Intussusception" not the answer?

Intussusception is mainly seen in infants and young children.

Why is "Volvulus" not the answer?

Volvulus is more common in the large bowel, particularly the sigmoid.

Why is "Gallstone ileus" not the answer?

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause in elderly patients with gallstones.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Intestinal obstruction in General Surgery. Intussusception is mainly a childhood condition and gallstone ileus is rare.

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 Intestinal obstruction?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.