Vascular surgery: acute limb ischemia: 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 · Vascular surgery: acute limb ischemia

Sample item

A patient with atrial fibrillation develops sudden painful cold pale leg with absent pulses and sensory loss. What is the immediate management principle?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Urgent vascular assessment and systemic anticoagulation unless contraindicated

Acute limb ischemia threatens limb viability and requires rapid vascular assessment, anticoagulation when appropriate, and revascularization planning. Motor or sensory deficit indicates advanced ischemia and urgency.

Option by option

  • A. Urgent vascular assessment and systemic anticoagulation unless contraindicated (correct)

    Correct. Immediate vascular pathway reduces risk of limb loss.

  • B. Apply compression stockings only

    Compression stockings do not restore arterial inflow.

  • C. Treat as cellulitis

    Cellulitis causes warm erythema with preserved pulses.

  • D. Delay treatment for outpatient Doppler

    Delay can allow irreversible nerve and muscle injury.

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 A, Urgent vascular assessment and systemic anticoagulation unless contraindicated. Acute limb ischemia threatens limb viability and requires rapid vascular assessment, anticoagulation when appropriate, and revascularization planning.

Why is "Apply compression stockings only" not the answer?

Compression stockings do not restore arterial inflow.

Why is "Treat as cellulitis" not the answer?

Cellulitis causes warm erythema with preserved pulses.

Why is "Delay treatment for outpatient Doppler" not the answer?

Delay can allow irreversible nerve and muscle injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: acute limb ischemia in General Surgery. Motor or sensory deficit indicates advanced ischemia and urgency.

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 Vascular surgery: acute limb ischemia?

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.