Postoperative care: 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 · Postoperative care

Sample item

A patient becomes suddenly short of breath and tachycardic on postoperative day three. Which diagnosis must be considered urgently?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pulmonary embolism

Recent surgery is a major venous thromboembolism risk factor, so sudden dyspnoea and tachycardia require urgent assessment for pulmonary embolism while other cardiopulmonary causes are evaluated.

Option by option

  • A. Stable cataract

    Cataract is an ocular condition without acute cardiopulmonary effects.

  • B. Chronic otitis externa

    Otitis externa causes ear symptoms, not postoperative dyspnoea.

  • C. Simple postoperative constipation

    Constipation does not explain sudden respiratory compromise and tachycardia.

  • D. Pulmonary embolism (correct)

    Correct: acute dyspnoea after surgery raises concern for pulmonary embolism.

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.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Pulmonary embolism. Recent surgery is a major venous thromboembolism risk factor, so sudden dyspnoea and tachycardia require urgent assessment for pulmonary embolism while other cardiopulmonary causes are evaluated.

Why is "Stable cataract" not the answer?

Cataract is an ocular condition without acute cardiopulmonary effects.

Why is "Chronic otitis externa" not the answer?

Otitis externa causes ear symptoms, not postoperative dyspnoea.

Why is "Simple postoperative constipation" not the answer?

Constipation does not explain sudden respiratory compromise and tachycardia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postoperative care in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: acute dyspnoea after surgery raises concern for pulmonary embolism.

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 Postoperative care?

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.