Vascular surgery: tumescent anaesthesia in endovenous ablation: 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: tumescent anaesthesia in endovenous ablation

Sample item

During endovenous laser ablation of a varicose long vein, dilute local anaesthetic is infiltrated along the vein under ultrasound guidance. Apart from anaesthesia, what is the main purpose of this tumescent infiltration?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. It acts as a heat sink for nearby tissue and empties the vein around the fibre

Tumescent fluid surrounds the vein, absorbs heat so skin and nerves are protected, and compresses the vein onto the fibre so the wall is treated directly rather than the blood. It also gives anaesthesia and reduces post-procedure bruising.

Option by option

  • A. It acts as a heat sink for nearby tissue and empties the vein around the fibre (correct)

    Correct. The fluid absorbs heat and collapses the vein onto the fibre, protecting skin and nerves.

  • B. It acts as an anticoagulant bath that prevents clot forming on the fibre

    The fluid has no anticoagulant action; closure is intended to occur through thermal injury and thrombosis of the vein.

  • C. It chemically destroys the vein wall so that less heat is needed at the junction

    Local anaesthetic does not damage the vein wall; the thermal energy from the laser causes the closure.

  • D. It dilates the vein so that the laser fibre passes easily and heats evenly

    Tumescence compresses and empties the vein rather than dilating it.

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, It acts as a heat sink for nearby tissue and empties the vein around the fibre. Tumescent fluid surrounds the vein, absorbs heat so skin and nerves are protected, and compresses the vein onto the fibre so the wall is treated directly rather than the blood.

Why is "It acts as an anticoagulant bath that prevents clot forming on the fi…" not the answer?

The fluid has no anticoagulant action; closure is intended to occur through thermal injury and thrombosis of the vein.

Why is "It chemically destroys the vein wall so that less heat is needed at t…" not the answer?

Local anaesthetic does not damage the vein wall; the thermal energy from the laser causes the closure.

Why is "It dilates the vein so that the laser fibre passes easily and heats e…" not the answer?

Tumescence compresses and empties the vein rather than dilating it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular surgery: tumescent anaesthesia in endovenous ablation in General Surgery. It also gives anaesthesia and reduces post-procedure bruising.

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: tumescent anaesthesia in endovenous ablation?

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.