Preoperative assessment: timing after myocardial infarction: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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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Anaesthesia · Preoperative assessment: timing after myocardial infarction

Sample item

A patient had a myocardial infarction 3 weeks ago without revascularisation and now needs elective hernia repair. What is the best advice?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Defer elective surgery for at least 60 days after the infarct

The risk of perioperative reinfarction and death is highest in the first weeks after myocardial infarction. Guidelines advise waiting at least 60 days for elective non-cardiac surgery after an infarct without revascularisation. Urgent surgery should proceed with optimised monitoring and care.

Option by option

  • A. Operate only under general anaesthesia within 7 days

    Early surgery under general anaesthesia does not remove the elevated risk.

  • B. Proceed without any cardiac evaluation

    Cardiac evaluation is needed because the recent event is a major risk marker.

  • C. Defer elective surgery for at least 60 days after the infarct (correct)

    Correct. A delay of at least 60 days reduces the risk of reinfarction.

  • D. Operate this week because the patient is stable

    Operating at 3 weeks falls within the high-risk window for an elective operation.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Defer elective surgery for at least 60 days after the infarct. The risk of perioperative reinfarction and death is highest in the first weeks after myocardial infarction.

Why is "Operate only under general anaesthesia within 7 days" not the answer?

Early surgery under general anaesthesia does not remove the elevated risk.

Why is "Proceed without any cardiac evaluation" not the answer?

Cardiac evaluation is needed because the recent event is a major risk marker.

Why is "Operate this week because the patient is stable" not the answer?

Operating at 3 weeks falls within the high-risk window for an elective operation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Preoperative assessment: timing after myocardial infarction in Anaesthesia. Guidelines advise waiting at least 60 days for elective non-cardiac surgery after an infarct without revascularisation. Urgent surgery should proceed with optimised monitoring and care.

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 Preoperative assessment: timing after myocardial infarction?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.