Wound healing: dehiscence: 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 · Wound healing: dehiscence

Sample item

On postoperative day 7 after laparotomy, a patient has a sudden gush of pink serosanguinous fluid from the incision. What complication is suggested?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Wound dehiscence

A sudden serosanguinous wound discharge several days after abdominal surgery can herald fascial dehiscence. The wound should be protected and urgently reviewed because evisceration may follow.

Option by option

  • A. Wound dehiscence (correct)

    Correct. This is a classic warning sign of fascial separation.

  • B. Normal scar maturation

    Normal scar maturation does not cause a sudden gush.

  • C. Keloid formation

    Keloids develop over months, not as acute wound fluid loss.

  • D. Contact dermatitis only

    Dermatitis causes itch and rash, not possible fascial failure.

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 A, Wound dehiscence. A sudden serosanguinous wound discharge several days after abdominal surgery can herald fascial dehiscence.

Why is "Normal scar maturation" not the answer?

Normal scar maturation does not cause a sudden gush.

Why is "Keloid formation" not the answer?

Keloids develop over months, not as acute wound fluid loss.

Why is "Contact dermatitis only" not the answer?

Dermatitis causes itch and rash, not possible fascial failure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Wound healing: dehiscence in General Surgery. The wound should be protected and urgently reviewed because evisceration may follow.

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 Wound healing: dehiscence?

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.