UPSC-CMS 2010 - Surgery Practice Questions

Q: Consider the following conditions in blunt trauma of the chest : 1. Flail chest 2. Drainage of 1 litre of blood from the chest tube 3. Cardiac tamponade 4. Rupture of oesophagus Which of the above are the indications of emergency thoracotomy?

2, 3 and 4 only. ***Correct: 2, 3 and 4 only*** **Emergency thoracotomy indications in blunt chest trauma:** **Drainage of 1 litre of blood from chest tube (Massive Hemothorax):** - Definite indication for emergency thoracotomy - Standard criteria: >1500 mL initial drainage OR >200-300 mL/hr for 2-4 consecutive hours - 1 liter initially approaches the threshold and indicates ongoing hemorrhage requiring surgical control **Cardiac tamponade:** - Life-threatening condition requiring immediate intervention - Initial management may include pericardiocentesis, but if patient is in extremis or pericardiocentesis fails, emergency thoracotomy is indicated - In the setting of blunt trauma with hemodynamic instability, thoracotomy may be necessary for definitive repair **Rupture of oesophagus:** - Though rare in blunt trauma, when it occurs it requires surgical repair via thoracotomy - While not always an immediate "emergency" in the resuscitation bay, it does require urgent surgical intervention once diagnosed - Can lead to mediastinitis and requires thoracotomy for repair and debridement *Incorrect: Flail chest (Statement 1)* - **Flail chest is NOT an indication for emergency thoracotomy** - Management is primarily conservative: adequate analgesia, pulmonary toilet, and respiratory support - Surgical rib fixation (ORIF) may be considered in select cases but this is different from emergency thoracotomy for hemorrhage or cardiac injury - Flail chest does not require opening the chest cavity emergently; it's a chest wall injury managed supportively *Incorrect: 2 and 4 only* - Excludes cardiac tamponade, which is a critical indication for thoracotomy in unstable patients *Incorrect: 1, 2, 3 and 4* - Incorrectly includes flail chest, which is not an indication for emergency thoracotomy *Incorrect: 1, 2 and 3 only* - Incorrectly includes flail chest - Excludes esophageal rupture which does require surgical thoracotomy when diagnosed

Q: A man falls astride a penetrating object. He develops retention of urine, perineal hematoma and bleeding from urinary meatus. The nature of injury would be

rupture of bulbar urethra. ***Rupture of bulbar urethra*** - An injury from falling astride a penetrating object, causing symptoms like **retention of urine**, **perineal hematoma**, and **bleeding from the urinary meatus**, is highly indicative of a **bulbar urethral rupture**. - The **bulbar urethra** is particularly vulnerable to crush injuries against the **pubic symphysis** in astride falls, leading to extravasation of urine and blood into the perineum. *Intraperitoneal rupture of bladder* - This typically occurs from a **direct blow to the lower abdomen** when the bladder is full, resulting in release of urine into the **peritoneal cavity**. - Symptoms would include generalized **abdominal pain**, **rebound tenderness**, and **peritonitis-like signs**, rather than localized perineal hematoma. *Rupture of membranous urethra* - A rupture of the **membranous urethra** is typically associated with **pelvic fractures** and is usually **above the urogenital diaphragm**. - While it can cause hematoma, the extravasation of urine and blood would more commonly track into the **retropubic space** and potentially the anterior abdominal wall, not primarily the perineum. *Extraperitoneal rupture of bladder* - This often results from **pelvic fractures** and is characterized by urine leaking into the **prevesical space**. - Symptoms include **suprapubic pain** and tenderness, but a perineal hematoma and meatal bleeding are less typical in isolation for this type of injury.

Q: Renal carcinoma with solitary lung secondary is best treated by

surgery. ***Surgery*** - For **renal cell carcinoma** with a **solitary lung metastasis**, surgical resection of both the primary tumor (nephrectomy) and the lung metastasis is often the preferred treatment and offers the best chance for long-term survival. - This approach is particularly effective when the patient has a good performance status, the primary tumor is controlled, and the metastasis is truly solitary and resectable. *Chemotherapy* - **Renal cell carcinoma** is classically considered **chemotherapy-resistant**, meaning traditional chemotherapy agents generally have limited efficacy. - While some newer targeted therapies and immunotherapies are used, conventional chemotherapy is not the first-line treatment for metastatic RCC, especially when surgical options are available. *Immunotherapy* - **Immunotherapy** (e.g., nivolumab, pembrolizumab) is a common treatment for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, particularly when surgery is not feasible or after recurrence. - However, for a **solitary resectable metastasis**, it is typically considered after surgery, or in cases where surgery is contraindicated, rather than as a primary curative approach. *Radiotherapy* - **Radiotherapy** has a limited role in the primary treatment of renal cell carcinoma due to its relative radioresistance, though it can be used for palliative purposes (e.g., pain control, brain metastases). - For a solitary lung metastasis, while **stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)** might be considered in select cases where surgery is not possible, surgical resection remains the gold standard for resectable lesions.

Q: What is the most common cause of gastric outlet obstruction in a 4-week-old baby?

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. ***Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis*** - This condition involves thickening of the **pyloric muscle**, leading to a narrowed outflow tract from the stomach. - It classically presents in infants around **2-6 weeks of age** with **projectile, non-bilious vomiting** and a palpable **olive-shaped mass** in the epigastrium. *Foreign body* - While possible, foreign body ingestion is an **uncommon cause** of gastric outlet obstruction in a 4-week-old infant. - Infants within this age range are typically **not mobile** or exploring their environment in a way that would lead to frequent foreign body ingestion. *Annular pancreas* - This is a rare congenital anomaly where pancreatic tissue completely encircles the **duodenum**, causing obstruction. - Although it can cause gastric outlet obstruction, it is **less common** than pyloric stenosis as the cause in this age group. *Duodenal atresia* - This condition is a complete blockage of the duodenum and typically presents with **bilious vomiting** within the **first 24-48 hours of life**. - The onset of symptoms in a 4-week-old, especially with non-bilious vomiting, makes duodenal atresia a less likely diagnosis.

Question 1

Consider the following conditions in blunt trauma of the chest :
1. Flail chest
2. Drainage of 1 litre of blood from the chest tube
3. Cardiac tamponade
4. Rupture of oesophagus
Which of the above are the indications of emergency thoracotomy?

Accepted Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Question 2

A man falls astride a penetrating object. He develops retention of urine, perineal hematoma and bleeding from urinary meatus. The nature of injury would be

Accepted Answer

rupture of bulbar urethra

Answer

intraperitoneal rupture of bladder

Answer

rupture of membranous urethra

Answer

extraperitoneal rupture of bladder

Question 3

Renal carcinoma with solitary lung secondary is best treated by

Accepted Answer

surgery

Answer

chemotherapy

Answer

immunotherapy

Answer

radiotherapy

Question 4

What is the most common cause of gastric outlet obstruction in a 4-week-old baby?

Accepted Answer

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Answer

Foreign body

Answer

Annular pancreas

Answer

Duodenal atresia

UPSC-CMS 2010 — Surgery