Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome: 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: short bowel syndrome

Sample item

After extensive small-bowel resection, a patient has chronic diarrhea, weight loss, electrolyte losses, and malabsorption. What syndrome is present?

AAchalasiaBAnal fissureCShort bowel syndromeDIrritable bowel syndrome

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Short bowel syndrome

Short bowel syndrome results when insufficient functional small intestine remains for adequate fluid and nutrient absorption. Management includes diet modification, antidiarrheals, micronutrient replacement, and sometimes parenteral support.

Option by option

A. Achalasia
Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder.
B. Anal fissure
Anal fissure causes painful defecation.
C. Short bowel syndrome (correct)
Correct. Extensive resection with malabsorption defines short bowel syndrome.
D. Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS does not cause severe nutrient malabsorption after surgery.

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 C, Short bowel syndrome. Short bowel syndrome results when insufficient functional small intestine remains for adequate fluid and nutrient absorption.

Why is "Achalasia" not the answer?

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder.

Why is "Anal fissure" not the answer?

Anal fissure causes painful defecation.

Why is "Irritable bowel syndrome" not the answer?

IBS does not cause severe nutrient malabsorption after surgery.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome in General Surgery. Management includes diet modification, antidiarrheals, micronutrient replacement, and sometimes parenteral support.

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 Gastrointestinal surgery: short bowel syndrome?

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.