Nose and paranasal sinuses: bilateral septal cautery: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Nose and paranasal sinuses: bilateral septal cautery

Sample item

A patient with recurrent anterior epistaxis has bleeding points on both sides of the septum at the same level. Why should cautery not be done at the same level on both sides at once?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Risk of septal perforation from loss of cartilage blood supply

The septal cartilage depends on mucoperichondrium for its blood supply. Bilateral cautery at the same site can cause cartilage necrosis and septal perforation. Silver nitrate is applied to one side and the other is treated after healing.

Option by option

  • A. Risk of anosmia

    Anosmia would follow olfactory area damage.

  • B. Risk of orbital haematoma

    Orbital haematoma is not a feature of septal cautery.

  • C. Risk of facial palsy

    Facial palsy is unrelated.

  • D. Risk of septal perforation from loss of cartilage blood supply (correct)

    Correct. Both mucoperichondrial layers are damaged, causing cartilage necrosis.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Risk of septal perforation from loss of cartilage blood supply. The septal cartilage depends on mucoperichondrium for its blood supply.

Why is "Risk of anosmia" not the answer?

Anosmia would follow olfactory area damage.

Why is "Risk of orbital haematoma" not the answer?

Orbital haematoma is not a feature of septal cautery.

Why is "Risk of facial palsy" not the answer?

Facial palsy is unrelated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose and paranasal sinuses: bilateral septal cautery in ENT. Bilateral cautery at the same site can cause cartilage necrosis and septal perforation. Silver nitrate is applied to one side and the other is treated after healing.

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 Nose and paranasal sinuses: bilateral septal cautery?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.