Intrapartum care: cord prolapse: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Intrapartum care: cord prolapse

Sample item

Immediately after rupture of membranes, fetal bradycardia is noted and a loop of umbilical cord is felt below the presenting part. What is the immediate maneuver?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Elevate the presenting part to relieve cord compression while arranging urgent delivery

Cord prolapse threatens fetal oxygenation through cord compression. The presenting part should be manually elevated, maternal positioning used as appropriate, and urgent operative delivery arranged while minimizing cord handling.

Option by option

  • A. Elevate the presenting part to relieve cord compression while arranging urgent delivery (correct)

    Correct. Relieving compression is the immediate lifesaving maneuver.

  • B. Push the cord back into the uterus

    Replacing the cord is not recommended and can cause vasospasm or delay.

  • C. Start oxytocin infusion

    Oxytocin may worsen compression by increasing contractions.

  • D. Perform a digital cervical sweep

    A cervical sweep does not relieve the compressed cord.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Elevate the presenting part to relieve cord compression while arranging urgent delivery. Cord prolapse threatens fetal oxygenation through cord compression.

Why is "Push the cord back into the uterus" not the answer?

Replacing the cord is not recommended and can cause vasospasm or delay.

Why is "Start oxytocin infusion" not the answer?

Oxytocin may worsen compression by increasing contractions.

Why is "Perform a digital cervical sweep" not the answer?

A cervical sweep does not relieve the compressed cord.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Intrapartum care: cord prolapse in OBG. The presenting part should be manually elevated, maternal positioning used as appropriate, and urgent operative delivery arranged while minimizing cord handling.

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 Intrapartum care: cord prolapse?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.