Burns: inhalation injury: 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 · Burns: inhalation injury

Sample item

A patient rescued from an enclosed-space fire has facial burns, soot in the mouth, hoarse voice, and increasing stridor. What is the airway principle?

AObserve until complete obstruction occursBGive only topical burn creamCWait for chest radiography before airway assessmentDSecure the airway early before progressive edema makes intubation difficult

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Secure the airway early before progressive edema makes intubation difficult

Thermal airway injury can progress rapidly because edema worsens after resuscitation. Early expert airway control is safer when signs of inhalation injury and impending obstruction are present.

Option by option

A. Observe until complete obstruction occurs
Waiting risks sudden complete obstruction.
B. Give only topical burn cream
Topical cream does not protect the airway.
C. Wait for chest radiography before airway assessment
Imaging must not delay airway management.
D. Secure the airway early before progressive edema makes intubation difficult (correct)
Correct. Early airway protection prevents a difficult or impossible later intubation.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Secure the airway early before progressive edema makes intubation difficult. Thermal airway injury can progress rapidly because edema worsens after resuscitation.

Why is "Observe until complete obstruction occurs" not the answer?

Waiting risks sudden complete obstruction.

Why is "Give only topical burn cream" not the answer?

Topical cream does not protect the airway.

Why is "Wait for chest radiography before airway assessment" not the answer?

Imaging must not delay airway management.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Burns: inhalation injury in General Surgery. Early expert airway control is safer when signs of inhalation injury and impending obstruction are present.

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 Burns: inhalation injury?

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.