Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome: 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 · Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome

Sample item

A patient after massive small bowel resection has 80 cm of jejunum left with an end jejunostomy and high-volume output. What is the key long-term support?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Parenteral nutrition with consideration of teduglutide

End jejunostomy with less than 100 cm of small bowel usually needs parenteral support. Teduglutide, a GLP-2 analogue, enhances mucosal absorption. Antimotility drugs and PPIs also reduce output.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate reversal surgery

    Early reversal would not remove the need for parenteral support with so little bowel.

  • B. Loperamide-free regime with no fluids

    Fluid and electrolyte replacement is essential.

  • C. Early large oral hyperosmolar feeds only

    Hyperosmolar feeds worsen stool output.

  • D. Parenteral nutrition with consideration of teduglutide (correct)

    Correct. PN with GLP-2 analogue is appropriate.

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.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Parenteral nutrition with consideration of teduglutide. End jejunostomy with less than 100 cm of small bowel usually needs parenteral support.

Why is "Immediate reversal surgery" not the answer?

Early reversal would not remove the need for parenteral support with so little bowel.

Why is "Loperamide-free regime with no fluids" not the answer?

Fluid and electrolyte replacement is essential.

Why is "Early large oral hyperosmolar feeds only" not the answer?

Hyperosmolar feeds worsen stool output.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome in General Surgery. Teduglutide, a GLP-2 analogue, enhances mucosal absorption. Antimotility drugs and PPIs also reduce output.

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 Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome?

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.