Trauma and burns: resuscitative thoracotomy: 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 · Trauma and burns: resuscitative thoracotomy

Sample item

A man is stabbed in the left chest. In the emergency department he suddenly loses his pulse after having been alert on arrival. A pericardial collection is seen on ultrasound, with no sign of other lethal injury. What is the most appropriate intervention?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Emergency department resuscitative thoracotomy

Penetrating cardiac injury with tamponade and loss of output has the best salvage with immediate thoracotomy to release tamponade and repair the heart. External compressions are ineffective in tamponade.

Option by option

  • A. Transfer to CT for diagnosis

    Imaging delays lifesaving intervention.

  • B. Emergency department resuscitative thoracotomy (correct)

    Correct. Resuscitative thoracotomy relieves tamponade and controls the cardiac wound.

  • C. Prolonged external chest compressions only

    Compressions cannot fill a heart compressed by blood.

  • D. Needle decompression of the chest

    Needle decompression treats tension pneumothorax, not tamponade.

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 B, Emergency department resuscitative thoracotomy. Penetrating cardiac injury with tamponade and loss of output has the best salvage with immediate thoracotomy to release tamponade and repair the heart.

Why is "Transfer to CT for diagnosis" not the answer?

Imaging delays lifesaving intervention.

Why is "Prolonged external chest compressions only" not the answer?

Compressions cannot fill a heart compressed by blood.

Why is "Needle decompression of the chest" not the answer?

Needle decompression treats tension pneumothorax, not tamponade.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma and burns: resuscitative thoracotomy in General Surgery. External compressions are ineffective in tamponade.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Trauma and burns: resuscitative thoracotomy?

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.