Oesophagus: corrosive ingestion: 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 · Oesophagus: corrosive ingestion

Sample item

A child is brought one hour after drinking toilet cleaner containing a strong acid. He is drooling but breathing comfortably. Which step should be avoided?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Inducing vomiting

Vomiting re-exposes the oesophagus and airway to the corrosive and risks aspiration and perforation. Neutralising agents are also avoided because of exothermic reaction. Management is airway protection, resuscitation and endoscopy at 12 to 48 hours to grade injury.

Option by option

  • A. Securing intravenous access and keeping nil by mouth

    Keeping nil by mouth with intravenous fluids is appropriate.

  • B. Inducing vomiting (correct)

    Correct. Emesis should never be induced after corrosive ingestion.

  • C. Early upper endoscopy within 24 to 48 hours

    Early endoscopy is the standard way to grade the injury and decide feeding.

  • D. Assessing the airway for oedema

    Airway assessment is essential because laryngeal oedema may develop.

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 B, Inducing vomiting. Vomiting re-exposes the oesophagus and airway to the corrosive and risks aspiration and perforation.

Why is "Securing intravenous access and keeping nil by mouth" not the answer?

Keeping nil by mouth with intravenous fluids is appropriate.

Why is "Early upper endoscopy within 24 to 48 hours" not the answer?

Early endoscopy is the standard way to grade the injury and decide feeding.

Why is "Assessing the airway for oedema" not the answer?

Airway assessment is essential because laryngeal oedema may develop.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oesophagus: corrosive ingestion in General Surgery. Neutralising agents are also avoided because of exothermic reaction. Management is airway protection, resuscitation and endoscopy at 12 to 48 hours to grade injury.

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 Oesophagus: corrosive ingestion?

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.