Vascular surgery: AAA elective repair: 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: AAA elective repair

Sample item

A 70-year-old man has an incidental asymptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysm measuring 5.8 cm on ultrasound. He is fit with no major comorbidity. What is the most appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Elective repair, endovascular or open

Elective repair of an asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is indicated at a diameter of 5.5 cm or more in men, or with rapid growth (over 1 cm a year) or symptoms. Endovascular repair is chosen when anatomy is suitable; otherwise open repair. Smaller aneurysms are kept under ultrasound surveillance.

Option by option

  • A. Elective repair, endovascular or open (correct)

    Correct. The size exceeds the 5.5 cm threshold for elective repair.

  • B. Ultrasound surveillance every 6 months

    Surveillance is for aneurysms below the threshold.

  • C. Blood pressure control and repeat scan in 3 years

    A long interval is inappropriate for a large aneurysm with high rupture risk.

  • D. Emergency laparotomy

    Emergency surgery is for rupture; this aneurysm is asymptomatic.

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 A, Elective repair, endovascular or open. Elective repair of an asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is indicated at a diameter of 5.

Why is "Ultrasound surveillance every 6 months" not the answer?

Surveillance is for aneurysms below the threshold.

Why is "Blood pressure control and repeat scan in 3 years" not the answer?

A long interval is inappropriate for a large aneurysm with high rupture risk.

Why is "Emergency laparotomy" not the answer?

Emergency surgery is for rupture; this aneurysm is asymptomatic.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: AAA elective repair in General Surgery. 5 cm or more in men, or with rapid growth (over 1 cm a year) or symptoms. Endovascular repair is chosen when anatomy is suitable; otherwise open repair. Smaller aneurysms are kept under ultrasound surveillance.

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 Vascular surgery: AAA elective repair?

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.