Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: post-ERCP pancreatitis: 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 · Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: post-ERCP pancreatitis

Sample item

A patient with a common bile duct stone is about to have ERCP and is at high risk of post-procedure pancreatitis. Which simple measure reduces its incidence?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Rectal indomethacin

A single dose of rectal NSAID such as indomethacin or diclofenac given around the time of ERCP reduces post-ERCP pancreatitis, along with aggressive hydration and pancreatic duct stenting in selected cases. Antibiotics and steroids do not prevent it.

Option by option

  • A. Intravenous ceftriaxone

    Antibiotics treat cholangitis and do not prevent pancreatitis.

  • B. Intravenous hydrocortisone

    Steroids have no proven preventive role.

  • C. Rectal indomethacin (correct)

    Correct. Rectal NSAID prophylaxis lowers the risk.

  • D. Oral ursodeoxycholic acid

    Ursodeoxycholic acid does not affect procedure-related pancreatitis.

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.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Rectal indomethacin. A single dose of rectal NSAID such as indomethacin or diclofenac given around the time of ERCP reduces post-ERCP pancreatitis, along with aggressive hydration and pancreatic duct stenting in selected cases.

Why is "Intravenous ceftriaxone" not the answer?

Antibiotics treat cholangitis and do not prevent pancreatitis.

Why is "Intravenous hydrocortisone" not the answer?

Steroids have no proven preventive role.

Why is "Oral ursodeoxycholic acid" not the answer?

Ursodeoxycholic acid does not affect procedure-related pancreatitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: post-ERCP pancreatitis in General Surgery. Antibiotics and steroids do not prevent it.

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 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: post-ERCP pancreatitis?

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.