Complications of pregnancy: cardiac disease: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Complications of pregnancy: cardiac disease

Sample item

A woman with moderate rheumatic mitral stenosis is stable throughout pregnancy. When is she at greatest risk of pulmonary oedema?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Immediately after delivery

After delivery, autotransfusion from the contracting uterus and relief of caval compression increase venous return suddenly. Women with stenotic lesions then decompensate, so they are monitored closely in the first postpartum days.

Option by option

  • A. Several weeks after postpartum discharge

    The risk is greatest in the first days, not several weeks later.

  • B. During the second stage only

    The second stage is stressful but the rise in venous return comes after the birth.

  • C. In the first trimester

    Cardiac output rises gradually in early pregnancy and is generally tolerated.

  • D. Immediately after delivery (correct)

    Correct. The postpartum shift of blood volume is the highest-risk time.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Immediately after delivery. After delivery, autotransfusion from the contracting uterus and relief of caval compression increase venous return suddenly.

Why is "Several weeks after postpartum discharge" not the answer?

The risk is greatest in the first days, not several weeks later.

Why is "During the second stage only" not the answer?

The second stage is stressful but the rise in venous return comes after the birth.

Why is "In the first trimester" not the answer?

Cardiac output rises gradually in early pregnancy and is generally tolerated.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications of pregnancy: cardiac disease in OBG. Women with stenotic lesions then decompensate, so they are monitored closely in the first postpartum days.

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 Complications of pregnancy: cardiac disease?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.