Perioperative care: postoperative ileus: 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 · Perioperative care: postoperative ileus

Sample item

After laparotomy, a patient has abdominal distension, nausea, absent bowel sounds, and diffuse gaseous bowel dilatation without a transition point. What is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Postoperative ileus

Postoperative ileus is temporary failure of gut motility after surgery and causes diffuse dilatation without a focal transition point. Management includes correcting reversible causes, mobilization, and selective decompression.

Option by option

  • A. Acute cholecystitis

    Cholecystitis causes right-upper-quadrant inflammatory pain.

  • B. Mechanical small-bowel obstruction

    Mechanical obstruction usually has a transition point and more focal pattern.

  • C. Postoperative ileus (correct)

    Correct. Diffuse nonmechanical bowel inactivity is typical ileus.

  • D. Perforated ulcer

    Perforated ulcer causes peritonitis and free air.

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.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Postoperative ileus. Postoperative ileus is temporary failure of gut motility after surgery and causes diffuse dilatation without a focal transition point.

Why is "Acute cholecystitis" not the answer?

Cholecystitis causes right-upper-quadrant inflammatory pain.

Why is "Mechanical small-bowel obstruction" not the answer?

Mechanical obstruction usually has a transition point and more focal pattern.

Why is "Perforated ulcer" not the answer?

Perforated ulcer causes peritonitis and free air.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative care: postoperative ileus in General Surgery. Management includes correcting reversible causes, mobilization, and selective decompression.

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 Perioperative care: postoperative ileus?

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.