Endocrine surgery: adrenal insufficiency: 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.

Try it

General Surgery · Endocrine surgery: adrenal insufficiency

Sample item

A patient taking chronic high-dose steroids undergoes major surgery. Why may perioperative stress-dose glucocorticoids be needed?

AThey prevent every wound infectionBSteroids always raise endogenous cortisol productionCChronic steroids can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisDThey replace perioperative antibiotics

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Chronic steroids can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Exogenous glucocorticoids can suppress endogenous cortisol production, and severe physiological stress may precipitate adrenal insufficiency if supplementation is inadequate. The plan depends on dose, duration, and procedure stress.

Option by option

A. They prevent every wound infection
Steroids do not prevent all infections and can increase infection risk.
B. Steroids always raise endogenous cortisol production
Chronic steroids suppress rather than raise endogenous cortisol.
C. Chronic steroids can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (correct)
Correct. HPA-axis suppression can prevent an adequate stress cortisol response.
D. They replace perioperative antibiotics
They do not replace antibiotic prophylaxis.

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, Chronic steroids can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Exogenous glucocorticoids can suppress endogenous cortisol production, and severe physiological stress may precipitate adrenal insufficiency if supplementation is inadequate.

Why is "They prevent every wound infection" not the answer?

Steroids do not prevent all infections and can increase infection risk.

Why is "Steroids always raise endogenous cortisol production" not the answer?

Chronic steroids suppress rather than raise endogenous cortisol.

Why is "They replace perioperative antibiotics" not the answer?

They do not replace antibiotic prophylaxis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrine surgery: adrenal insufficiency in General Surgery. The plan depends on dose, duration, and procedure stress.

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 Endocrine surgery: adrenal insufficiency?

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.