Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholangitis: 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 · Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholangitis

Sample item

A patient with fever, jaundice, right-upper-quadrant pain, hypotension, and confusion has a dilated common bile duct on imaging. What is the definitive urgent principle of management in addition to antibiotics and resuscitation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Biliary decompression

Severe acute cholangitis is biliary sepsis from obstruction and requires source control through urgent biliary drainage when indicated, in addition to antimicrobials and resuscitation. Delay risks progressive septic shock.

Option by option

  • A. Elective colonoscopy

    Colonoscopy does not relieve biliary obstruction.

  • B. Observation without intervention

    Observation alone is unsafe in severe cholangitis.

  • C. High-fiber diet

    Dietary fiber has no role in acute biliary sepsis.

  • D. Biliary decompression (correct)

    Correct. Obstructed infected bile needs decompression for source control.

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, Biliary decompression. Severe acute cholangitis is biliary sepsis from obstruction and requires source control through urgent biliary drainage when indicated, in addition to antimicrobials and resuscitation.

Why is "Elective colonoscopy" not the answer?

Colonoscopy does not relieve biliary obstruction.

Why is "Observation without intervention" not the answer?

Observation alone is unsafe in severe cholangitis.

Why is "High-fiber diet" not the answer?

Dietary fiber has no role in acute biliary sepsis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholangitis in General Surgery. Delay risks progressive septic shock.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Hepatobiliary surgery: acute cholangitis?

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.