Vascular surgery: vascular trauma hard signs: 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: vascular trauma hard signs

Sample item

After a stab wound to the thigh, a patient has an expanding haematoma, absent distal pulses and a cold foot. What is the next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Immediate surgical exploration and repair

Hard signs of vascular injury (pulsatile bleeding, expanding haematoma, absent pulses, bruit or thrill, distal ischaemia) demand immediate exploration without further imaging. Haemorrhage is controlled by direct pressure, and a temporary shunt may restore flow before definitive repair.

Option by option

  • A. Duplex scanning before any action

    Imaging delays surgery in this setting.

  • B. Elevate the limb and review tomorrow

    This is an emergency.

  • C. Immediate surgical exploration and repair (correct)

    Correct. Hard signs mandate urgent exploration.

  • D. Observe for 24 hours

    Delay risks limb loss.

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 C, Immediate surgical exploration and repair. Hard signs of vascular injury (pulsatile bleeding, expanding haematoma, absent pulses, bruit or thrill, distal ischaemia) demand immediate exploration without further imaging.

Why is "Duplex scanning before any action" not the answer?

Imaging delays surgery in this setting.

Why is "Elevate the limb and review tomorrow" not the answer?

This is an emergency.

Why is "Observe for 24 hours" not the answer?

Delay risks limb loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: vascular trauma hard signs in General Surgery. Haemorrhage is controlled by direct pressure, and a temporary shunt may restore flow before definitive repair.

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 Vascular surgery: vascular trauma hard signs?

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.