Perioperative: diathermy safety: 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 · Perioperative: diathermy safety

Sample item

Why should monopolar diathermy be avoided during circumcision or surgery on a digit?

ACurrent passes through end arteries and can cause thrombosis and necrosisBIt cannot cut tissueCIt sterilises the instrumentsDIt causes hypothermia

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Current passes through end arteries and can cause thrombosis and necrosis

In monopolar diathermy the current travels through the patient to the return plate, and in structures with a narrow pedicle such as the penis or digits the heat can thrombose the end arteries and cause distal necrosis. Bipolar diathermy confines current between the forceps tips and is safer in such areas and in patients with pacemakers.

Option by option

A. Current passes through end arteries and can cause thrombosis and necrosis (correct)
Correct. The current can cause thrombosis of end arteries.
B. It cannot cut tissue
Monopolar diathermy cuts and coagulates well.
C. It sterilises the instruments
Diathermy does not sterilise instruments.
D. It causes hypothermia
Hypothermia is not the concern.

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 A, Current passes through end arteries and can cause thrombosis and necrosis. In monopolar diathermy the current travels through the patient to the return plate, and in structures with a narrow pedicle such as the penis or digits the heat can thrombose the end arteries and cause distal necrosis.

Why is "It cannot cut tissue" not the answer?

Monopolar diathermy cuts and coagulates well.

Why is "It sterilises the instruments" not the answer?

Diathermy does not sterilise instruments.

Why is "It causes hypothermia" not the answer?

Hypothermia is not the concern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative: diathermy safety in General Surgery. Bipolar diathermy confines current between the forceps tips and is safer in such areas and in patients with pacemakers.

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 Perioperative: diathermy safety?

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.