Paediatric surgery: exomphalos: 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 · Paediatric surgery: exomphalos

Sample item

A newborn has a midline abdominal wall defect at the umbilicus covered by a translucent membrane containing the liver. Which statement is true?

AIt is covered by no membraneBThere are rarely other anomaliesCAssociated chromosomal and cardiac anomalies are commonDThe cord arises lateral to the defect

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Associated chromosomal and cardiac anomalies are common

Exomphalos (omphalocele) is covered by a sac and the cord inserts into the sac, and is associated with trisomies, cardiac defects and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Gastroschisis is a paraumbilical defect, usually to the right of the cord, without a sac and rarely associated with other anomalies. Management includes sac protection and staged or primary closure.

Option by option

A. It is covered by no membrane
Exomphalos is covered by a membrane.
B. There are rarely other anomalies
This describes gastroschisis.
C. Associated chromosomal and cardiac anomalies are common (correct)
Correct. Exomphalos is frequently associated with other anomalies.
D. The cord arises lateral to the defect
A lateral defect with a normal cord describes gastroschisis.

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 Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Associated chromosomal and cardiac anomalies are common. Exomphalos (omphalocele) is covered by a sac and the cord inserts into the sac, and is associated with trisomies, cardiac defects and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Why is "It is covered by no membrane" not the answer?

Exomphalos is covered by a membrane.

Why is "There are rarely other anomalies" not the answer?

This describes gastroschisis.

Why is "The cord arises lateral to the defect" not the answer?

A lateral defect with a normal cord describes gastroschisis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: exomphalos in General Surgery. Gastroschisis is a paraumbilical defect, usually to the right of the cord, without a sac and rarely associated with other anomalies. Management includes sac protection and staged or primary 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 Paediatric surgery: exomphalos?

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.