Hernia and abdominal wall: patent vitellointestinal duct: 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 · Hernia and abdominal wall: patent vitellointestinal duct

Sample item

A 10-day-old infant has a bright red moist mucosal nodule at the umbilicus that intermittently discharges bile-stained fluid and gas. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Patent vitellointestinal duct

A persistent communication between the ileum and the umbilicus (the omphalomesenteric duct) produces an umbilical fistula discharging bowel contents, and everted ileal mucosa may be seen. It needs surgical excision, as prolapse and obstruction can occur.

Option by option

  • A. Patent vitellointestinal duct (correct)

    Correct. An omphalomesenteric duct fistula discharges small bowel content and shows red mucosa at the umbilicus.

  • B. Omphalocele

    Omphalocele is a sac containing abdominal contents at the cord base and does not discharge.

  • C. Patent urachus

    A patent urachus leaks clear urine from the bladder, not bile-stained fluid.

  • D. Infantile umbilical hernia

    An umbilical hernia is a skin-covered bulge with no mucosa or discharge.

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, Patent vitellointestinal duct. A persistent communication between the ileum and the umbilicus (the omphalomesenteric duct) produces an umbilical fistula discharging bowel contents, and everted ileal mucosa may be seen.

Why is "Omphalocele" not the answer?

Omphalocele is a sac containing abdominal contents at the cord base and does not discharge.

Why is "Patent urachus" not the answer?

A patent urachus leaks clear urine from the bladder, not bile-stained fluid.

Why is "Infantile umbilical hernia" not the answer?

An umbilical hernia is a skin-covered bulge with no mucosa or discharge.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hernia and abdominal wall: patent vitellointestinal duct in General Surgery. It needs surgical excision, as prolapse and obstruction can occur.

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 Hernia and abdominal wall: patent vitellointestinal duct?

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.