Bowel obstruction: 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 · Bowel obstruction

Sample item

Which feature in a patient with bowel obstruction suggests strangulation and mandates urgent surgical assessment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Continuous severe pain with peritonism and tachycardia

Continuous severe pain, systemic toxicity, localized peritonism, rising lactate, or tachycardia can signal compromised bowel blood supply in obstruction, where delay risks necrosis and perforation.

Option by option

  • A. Continuous severe pain with peritonism and tachycardia (correct)

    Correct: peritonism and systemic deterioration raise concern for ischemic strangulation.

  • B. Mild hunger before lunch

    Ordinary hunger is not a marker of bowel ischemia.

  • C. Transient hiccups after carbonated drinks

    Hiccups after drinks are nonspecific and not a surgical red flag.

  • D. Stable chronic constipation alone

    Chronic constipation alone does not establish strangulation.

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 A, Continuous severe pain with peritonism and tachycardia. Continuous severe pain, systemic toxicity, localized peritonism, rising lactate, or tachycardia can signal compromised bowel blood supply in obstruction, where delay risks necrosis and perforation.

Why is "Mild hunger before lunch" not the answer?

Ordinary hunger is not a marker of bowel ischemia.

Why is "Transient hiccups after carbonated drinks" not the answer?

Hiccups after drinks are nonspecific and not a surgical red flag.

Why is "Stable chronic constipation alone" not the answer?

Chronic constipation alone does not establish strangulation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bowel obstruction in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: peritonism and systemic deterioration raise concern for ischemic strangulation.

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 Bowel obstruction?

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.