Thyroid surgery: 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 · Thyroid surgery

Sample item

Which postoperative symptom after thyroidectomy should prompt immediate concern for neck haematoma compromising the airway?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rapid neck swelling with breathing difficulty

An expanding neck haematoma after thyroid surgery can compress the airway rapidly; urgent wound release and senior surgical and anaesthetic help may be required while airway management is prepared.

Option by option

  • A. Gradual toenail growth

    Toenail growth is unrelated to postoperative neck complications.

  • B. Mild appetite increase

    Appetite change does not identify an acute surgical airway emergency.

  • C. Intermittent sneezing

    Sneezing alone is not a sign of compressive haematoma.

  • D. Rapid neck swelling with breathing difficulty (correct)

    Correct: rapid swelling and dyspnoea can indicate airway-threatening haematoma.

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 D, Rapid neck swelling with breathing difficulty. An expanding neck haematoma after thyroid surgery can compress the airway rapidly; urgent wound release and senior surgical and anaesthetic help may be required while airway management is prepared.

Why is "Gradual toenail growth" not the answer?

Toenail growth is unrelated to postoperative neck complications.

Why is "Mild appetite increase" not the answer?

Appetite change does not identify an acute surgical airway emergency.

Why is "Intermittent sneezing" not the answer?

Sneezing alone is not a sign of compressive haematoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thyroid surgery in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: rapid swelling and dyspnoea can indicate airway-threatening haematoma.

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 Thyroid surgery?

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.