Vascular surgery: critical limb ischaemia: 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 · Vascular surgery: critical limb ischaemia

Sample item

A diabetic patient has rest pain in the forefoot at night and a non-healing toe ulcer. Ankle systolic pressure is 40 mmHg. What is the appropriate step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Vascular imaging and revascularisation planning

Rest pain or tissue loss with very low ankle pressures defines critical limb ischaemia, which threatens the limb. Duplex or CT or MR angiography maps the lesions for angioplasty, stenting or bypass. Compression is contraindicated in arterial disease.

Option by option

  • A. Vascular imaging and revascularisation planning (correct)

    Correct. Revascularisation is needed to save the limb.

  • B. Compression bandaging

    Compression worsens ischaemia.

  • C. Reassure as a neuropathic ulcer

    Ischaemia, not neuropathy, drives this presentation.

  • D. Increase analgesia and discharge

    Analgesia alone leads to amputation.

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 A, Vascular imaging and revascularisation planning. Rest pain or tissue loss with very low ankle pressures defines critical limb ischaemia, which threatens the limb.

Why is "Compression bandaging" not the answer?

Compression worsens ischaemia.

Why is "Reassure as a neuropathic ulcer" not the answer?

Ischaemia, not neuropathy, drives this presentation.

Why is "Increase analgesia and discharge" not the answer?

Analgesia alone leads to amputation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: critical limb ischaemia in General Surgery. Duplex or CT or MR angiography maps the lesions for angioplasty, stenting or bypass. Compression is contraindicated in arterial disease.

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 Vascular surgery: critical limb ischaemia?

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.