Gastroenterology: upper gastrointestinal bleeding: practice question

A General Medicine 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 Medicine · Gastroenterology: upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Sample item

A 55-year-old man presents with melaena and, after fluid resuscitation, is haemodynamically stable. When should endoscopy be performed?

AAfter one weekBNever, since a proton pump inhibitor is sufficientCRoutinely after 72 hoursDWithin 24 hours of presentation

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Within 24 hours of presentation

After resuscitation, upper endoscopy within 24 hours allows diagnosis, risk stratification and endoscopic haemostasis. Intravenous proton pump inhibitors are started before endoscopy and reduce high-risk stigmata. Unstable patients or those with variceal bleeding need earlier endoscopy.

Option by option

A. After one week
A one-week delay is unsafe.
B. Never, since a proton pump inhibitor is sufficient
A drug alone does not identify the source or treat high-risk lesions.
C. Routinely after 72 hours
A delay of 72 hours risks rebleeding and missed intervention.
D. Within 24 hours of presentation (correct)
Correct. Early endoscopy within 24 hours is standard.

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.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Within 24 hours of presentation. After resuscitation, upper endoscopy within 24 hours allows diagnosis, risk stratification and endoscopic haemostasis.

Why is "After one week" not the answer?

A one-week delay is unsafe.

Why is "Never, since a proton pump inhibitor is sufficient" not the answer?

A drug alone does not identify the source or treat high-risk lesions.

Why is "Routinely after 72 hours" not the answer?

A delay of 72 hours risks rebleeding and missed intervention.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastroenterology: upper gastrointestinal bleeding in General Medicine. Intravenous proton pump inhibitors are started before endoscopy and reduce high-risk stigmata. Unstable patients or those with variceal bleeding need earlier endoscopy.

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 Gastroenterology: upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.