Gastrointestinal surgery: perforated diverticulitis: 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 · Gastrointestinal surgery: perforated diverticulitis

Sample item

A patient with sigmoid diverticulitis has generalized peritonitis and free intraperitoneal air. What is the surgical principle?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Urgent source control with resection or diversion as appropriate

Perforated diverticulitis with generalized peritonitis is a surgical emergency. Resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and timely operative source control are required.

Option by option

  • A. Outpatient high-fiber diet only

    Dietary advice is not adequate for perforated peritonitis.

  • B. No antibiotics because perforation is sterile

    Colonic perforation contaminates the peritoneum with bacteria.

  • C. Delay surgery until inflammatory markers normalize

    Waiting risks worsening sepsis.

  • D. Urgent source control with resection or diversion as appropriate (correct)

    Correct. Peritonitis from perforation needs prompt source control.

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, Urgent source control with resection or diversion as appropriate. Perforated diverticulitis with generalized peritonitis is a surgical emergency.

Why is "Outpatient high-fiber diet only" not the answer?

Dietary advice is not adequate for perforated peritonitis.

Why is "No antibiotics because perforation is sterile" not the answer?

Colonic perforation contaminates the peritoneum with bacteria.

Why is "Delay surgery until inflammatory markers normalize" not the answer?

Waiting risks worsening sepsis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal surgery: perforated diverticulitis in General Surgery. Resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and timely operative source control are required.

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 Gastrointestinal surgery: perforated diverticulitis?

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.