Acute abdomen: ischemic colitis: 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 · Acute abdomen: ischemic colitis

Sample item

An older patient with vascular disease develops crampy left-sided abdominal pain followed by bloody diarrhea. What diagnosis is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Ischemic colitis

Ischemic colitis commonly affects watershed areas of the colon and presents with abdominal pain followed by hematochezia, particularly in older patients with vascular risk. Severity varies from transient mucosal injury to transmural necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Biliary colic

    Biliary colic causes episodic right-upper-quadrant pain.

  • B. Peptic ulcer perforation

    Perforation causes peritonitis and free air.

  • C. Acute pancreatitis

    Pancreatitis causes epigastric pain radiating to the back.

  • D. Ischemic colitis (correct)

    Correct. The sequence of pain then bloody diarrhea is typical.

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, Ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis commonly affects watershed areas of the colon and presents with abdominal pain followed by hematochezia, particularly in older patients with vascular risk.

Why is "Biliary colic" not the answer?

Biliary colic causes episodic right-upper-quadrant pain.

Why is "Peptic ulcer perforation" not the answer?

Perforation causes peritonitis and free air.

Why is "Acute pancreatitis" not the answer?

Pancreatitis causes epigastric pain radiating to the back.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Acute abdomen: ischemic colitis in General Surgery. Severity varies from transient mucosal injury to transmural necrosis.

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 Acute abdomen: ischemic colitis?

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.