Trauma: 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.

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General Surgery · Trauma

Sample item

A driver in a road accident has blunt abdominal trauma, blood pressure 80/50 mmHg that does not respond to initial fluid resuscitation, and a positive FAST scan with free fluid in the abdomen. What is the next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Emergency laparotomy

Haemodynamic instability with a positive FAST in blunt trauma indicates ongoing intra-abdominal haemorrhage, and the patient should go straight to theatre. CT is reserved for patients who are stable enough to travel safely.

Option by option

  • A. CT scan of the abdomen

    CT takes the patient away from resuscitation and is safe only in haemodynamically stable patients.

  • B. Discharge after analgesia

    Discharge is dangerous with proven free fluid and hypotension.

  • C. Observation with repeat examination

    Observation would allow continued bleeding in a patient who is already in shock.

  • D. Emergency laparotomy (correct)

    Correct. An unstable patient with intraperitoneal blood needs immediate surgical control of bleeding.

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, Emergency laparotomy. Haemodynamic instability with a positive FAST in blunt trauma indicates ongoing intra-abdominal haemorrhage, and the patient should go straight to theatre.

Why is "CT scan of the abdomen" not the answer?

CT takes the patient away from resuscitation and is safe only in haemodynamically stable patients.

Why is "Discharge after analgesia" not the answer?

Discharge is dangerous with proven free fluid and hypotension.

Why is "Observation with repeat examination" not the answer?

Observation would allow continued bleeding in a patient who is already in shock.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma in General Surgery. CT is reserved for patients who are stable enough to travel safely.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Trauma?

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.