Postoperative complications: atelectasis: 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 complications: atelectasis

Sample item

On the first postoperative day after upper abdominal surgery, a patient has low-grade fever, reduced basal breath sounds, and mild hypoxemia but no focal crackles or purulent sputum. Which complication is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Postoperative atelectasis

Atelectasis from shallow breathing, pain, and immobility is common after abdominal surgery and causes basal volume loss and mild hypoxemia. Analgesia, mobilization, and lung-expansion measures are important preventive and therapeutic steps.

Option by option

  • A. Lobar pneumonia

    Pneumonia usually produces fever, productive cough, and focal infectious signs.

  • B. Postoperative atelectasis (correct)

    Correct. Early basal hypoventilation without infective features is typical of atelectasis.

  • C. Acute pulmonary edema

    Pulmonary edema commonly has crackles and signs of fluid overload or cardiac dysfunction.

  • D. Pulmonary embolism

    Pulmonary embolism often presents with acute dyspnea, pleuritic pain, or unexplained tachycardia.

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 B, Postoperative atelectasis. Atelectasis from shallow breathing, pain, and immobility is common after abdominal surgery and causes basal volume loss and mild hypoxemia.

Why is "Lobar pneumonia" not the answer?

Pneumonia usually produces fever, productive cough, and focal infectious signs.

Why is "Acute pulmonary edema" not the answer?

Pulmonary edema commonly has crackles and signs of fluid overload or cardiac dysfunction.

Why is "Pulmonary embolism" not the answer?

Pulmonary embolism often presents with acute dyspnea, pleuritic pain, or unexplained tachycardia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postoperative complications: atelectasis in General Surgery. Analgesia, mobilization, and lung-expansion measures are important preventive and therapeutic steps.

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 complications: atelectasis?

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.