Complications of pregnancy: gastroschisis: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Complications of pregnancy: gastroschisis

Sample item

An anomaly scan at 20 weeks shows loops of bowel floating freely in the amniotic fluid, arising from a small defect to the right of a normally inserted umbilical cord. No covering membrane is seen. Maternal serum AFP is raised. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Gastroschisis

Gastroschisis is a paraumbilical full-thickness abdominal wall defect, usually to the right of the cord, with uncovered eviscerated bowel. It is rarely associated with chromosomal abnormality, unlike omphalocele. Affected infants need early surgical closure.

Option by option

  • A. Gastroschisis (correct)

    Correct. A free-floating, uncovered bowel beside a normal cord insertion is gastroschisis.

  • B. Umbilical hernia

    Umbilical hernia is skin covered and does not appear as free-floating bowel.

  • C. Bladder exstrophy

    Bladder exstrophy shows a lower abdominal wall defect with an exposed bladder, not eviscerated bowel.

  • D. Omphalocele

    Omphalocele has a covering sac and the cord inserts on the sac itself.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is a paraumbilical full-thickness abdominal wall defect, usually to the right of the cord, with uncovered eviscerated bowel.

Why is "Umbilical hernia" not the answer?

Umbilical hernia is skin covered and does not appear as free-floating bowel.

Why is "Bladder exstrophy" not the answer?

Bladder exstrophy shows a lower abdominal wall defect with an exposed bladder, not eviscerated bowel.

Why is "Omphalocele" not the answer?

Omphalocele has a covering sac and the cord inserts on the sac itself.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications of pregnancy: gastroschisis in OBG. It is rarely associated with chromosomal abnormality, unlike omphalocele. Affected infants need early surgical closure.

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 Complications of pregnancy: gastroschisis?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.