Urology: obstructed infected kidney: 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 · Urology: obstructed infected kidney

Sample item

A patient has fever, rigors, flank pain, hydronephrosis, and a ureteric stone on CT. What is the crucial management principle?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Urgent urinary tract decompression plus antibiotics

An infected obstructed urinary system is a urological emergency because pressure and infection can rapidly cause sepsis. Antibiotics alone are insufficient without timely drainage by stent or nephrostomy when indicated.

Option by option

  • A. Observe with analgesia alone

    Analgesia alone does not relieve infected obstruction or control sepsis.

  • B. Perform elective lithotripsy after several weeks without drainage

    Definitive stone treatment is usually deferred until infection and obstruction are controlled.

  • C. Urgent urinary tract decompression plus antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Source control by drainage is essential in infected obstruction.

  • D. Start an alpha blocker and discharge

    Medical expulsive therapy is not appropriate for septic obstructed uropathy.

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 C, Urgent urinary tract decompression plus antibiotics. An infected obstructed urinary system is a urological emergency because pressure and infection can rapidly cause sepsis.

Why is "Observe with analgesia alone" not the answer?

Analgesia alone does not relieve infected obstruction or control sepsis.

Why is "Perform elective lithotripsy after several weeks without drainage" not the answer?

Definitive stone treatment is usually deferred until infection and obstruction are controlled.

Why is "Start an alpha blocker and discharge" not the answer?

Medical expulsive therapy is not appropriate for septic obstructed uropathy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: obstructed infected kidney in General Surgery. Antibiotics alone are insufficient without timely drainage by stent or nephrostomy when indicated.

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 Urology: obstructed infected kidney?

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.