Operative Obstetrics Practice Questions

Q: A primigravida at 36 weeks gestation has a USG revealing a complete placenta previa. The uterus is relaxed, but she starts to bleed heavily. All of the following are appropriate next steps, EXCEPT?

Administer intramuscular terbutaline. **Explanation:** In a case of **complete placenta previa** with **heavy bleeding**, the clinical priority is maternal stabilization and immediate delivery, regardless of gestational age. **1. Why Option A is the Correct Answer (The "Except"):** Terbutaline is a tocolytic agent used to suppress uterine contractions. In this scenario, the question states the **uterus is already relaxed**. More importantly, tocolytics are strictly **contraindicated** in cases of heavy antepartum hemorrhage (APH) with hemodynamic instability. Administering a beta-mimetic like terbutaline can cause maternal tachycardia and peripheral vasodilation, which would mask signs of hypovolemic shock and worsen the patient's cardiovascular status. **2. Why the other options are incorrect (Appropriate steps):** * **Option B & C:** Heavy bleeding in placenta previa is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate **resuscitation** with large-bore IV fluids and cross-matching **packed RBCs** (at least 4 units) is mandatory to maintain perfusion and prepare for an emergency Cesarean section. * **Option D:** **Urine output monitoring** (via Foley catheter) is the most sensitive non-invasive indicator of vital organ perfusion and renal function during obstetric hemorrhage. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Management Gold Standard:** For complete placenta previa with active, heavy bleeding, the treatment of choice is **Immediate Cesarean Section**, irrespective of the period of gestation. * **Vaginal Examination:** Never perform a digital vaginal examination (PV) in a suspected case of APH until placenta previa is ruled out by USG, as it can provoke torrential hemorrhage (**"Stallworthy's sign"**). * **Expectant Management (Macafee & Johnson):** Only indicated if the bleeding is slight, the patient is stable, and the fetus is preterm (<37 weeks). It is NOT applicable in this scenario due to heavy bleeding.

Q: What procedure should be performed in case of aftercoming head arrest due to contracted pelvis in breech presentation?

Zavanelli maneuver. **Explanation:** The **Zavanelli maneuver** is the procedure of choice when the aftercoming head of a breech is trapped due to a contracted pelvis or cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), and all other maneuvers (like Mauriceau-Smellie-Veit) have failed. It involves manually flexing the fetal head, rotating it back to an occiput-anterior position, and cephalic replacement into the uterus, followed by an emergency Cesarean section. While rare, it is the definitive step to resolve an irreducible entrapment in a live fetus. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Craniotomy (A):** This is a destructive procedure used to reduce the size of the fetal head. It is only performed on a **dead fetus** to facilitate delivery and avoid maternal trauma. * **Decapitation (B):** This destructive procedure is indicated in cases of **neglected shoulder presentation** with a dead fetus, not for aftercoming head arrest. * **Cleidotomy (C):** This involves the surgical division of one or both clavicles. It is used to reduce the biacromial diameter in cases of **shoulder dystocia** (cephalic presentation), not for the aftercoming head. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Piper’s Forceps:** The instrument of choice for the controlled delivery of the aftercoming head in breech. * **Burns-Marshall Maneuver:** Used when the baby is hanging by its own weight to deliver the head. * **Prerequisite for Zavanelli:** Tocolysis (e.g., Nitroglycerin or Terbutaline) is often required to relax the uterus before attempting replacement. * **Entrapped Head vs. Arrested Head:** If the head is trapped by a **constriction ring or undilated cervix** (not contracted pelvis), the treatment of choice is **Dührssen’s incisions** (at 2, 6, and 10 o’clock).

Q: Which of the following is NOT an operative procedure for uterine inversion?

Fentoni. **Explanation:** Uterine inversion is a life-threatening obstetric emergency where the uterine fundus collapses into the endometrial cavity. Management follows a stepwise approach: manual replacement (Johnson’s maneuver), followed by hydrostatic methods, and finally surgical intervention if conservative measures fail. **Why Fentoni is the correct answer:** **Fentoni’s procedure** is not a surgery for uterine inversion; it is a type of **perineal incision** (extension of an episiotomy) used to provide more space during difficult vaginal deliveries or to manage shoulder dystocia. It has no role in correcting a displaced uterus. **Analysis of incorrect options (Operative procedures for Inversion):** * **O’Sullivan’s Technique:** This is the **hydrostatic method**. It involves pumping warm saline into the vagina to create pressure that pushes the fundus back into its anatomical position. * **Haultain’s Procedure:** An **abdominal surgical approach**. A posterior incision is made through the cervical ring (constriction ring) to facilitate the repositioning of the fundus. * **Spinelli’s Procedure:** A **vaginal surgical approach**. It involves an anterior incision through the bladder fold and the cervical ring to reposition the uterus. (Note: **Huntington’s** is another abdominal procedure involving upward traction with Allis forceps). **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Immediate Step:** Stop oxytocin, call for help, and start aggressive fluid resuscitation. * **Drug of Choice for Relaxation:** Halothane (general anesthesia) or Nitroglycerin are used to relax the constriction ring for replacement. * **Shock in Inversion:** Often **neurogenic** initially (due to traction on the infundibulopelvic ligaments) before becoming hemorrhagic. * **Order of Management:** Johnson’s maneuver → O’Sullivan’s → Huntington’s/Haultain’s.

Q: A hemodynamically stable nulliparous patient with ectopic pregnancy has an adnexal mass of 2.5 x 3 cms and a Beta HCG titer of 1500 miu/ml. What modality of treatment is suitable for her?

Medical management. ### Explanation The management of ectopic pregnancy is determined by the patient's hemodynamic stability, the size of the adnexal mass, and Beta-HCG levels. **Why Medical Management is Correct:** This patient is a prime candidate for medical management with **Methotrexate** because she meets the standard inclusion criteria: 1. **Hemodynamic stability:** No signs of rupture or active bleeding. 2. **Size of adnexal mass:** The mass is $\leq$ 3.5 cm (this patient’s mass is 3 cm). 3. **Beta-HCG levels:** Titer is < 5000 mIU/ml (this patient’s titer is 1500 mIU/ml). 4. **Desire for fertility:** As a nulliparous patient, medical management avoids the surgical risks of tubal scarring. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Conservative (Expectant) Management:** This is generally reserved for patients with very low, spontaneously declining Beta-HCG levels (usually < 1000 mIU/ml) and no symptoms. A titer of 1500 mIU/ml requires active intervention. * **C. Laparoscopic Surgery:** This is the gold standard for **ruptured** ectopic pregnancies in stable patients or when medical management is contraindicated/fails. Since this patient is stable and meets medical criteria, surgery is unnecessarily invasive. * **D. Laparotomy:** Reserved for hemodynamically **unstable** patients (shock) with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy where immediate life-saving intervention is required. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Methotrexate Dose:** 50 mg/m² BSA (intramuscular). * **Contraindications to Medical Management:** Breastfeeding, immunodeficiency, active pulmonary/renal/hepatic disease, and the presence of **fetal cardiac activity** (relative contraindication). * **Monitoring:** Beta-HCG levels are measured on Day 4 and Day 7. A decline of $\geq$ 15% between Day 4 and Day 7 indicates successful treatment. * **Most common site of ectopic:** Ampulla (Fallopian tube). * **Most common site of rupture:** Isthmus (occurs earliest).

Q: All of the following statements are true for episiotomies except?

Allows widening of the birth canal. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **A (Allows widening of the birth canal)**. This is a common misconception. An episiotomy is a surgically planned incision on the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall. While it facilitates the delivery of the fetal head by enlarging the **vaginal introitus (outlet)**, it does **not** widen the bony birth canal or the pelvic diameters. The dimensions of the birth canal are fixed by the maternal pelvis. **Analysis of other options:** * **Option B:** Episiotomies are classified based on the direction of the incision. The two most common types are **mediolateral** (most common in the UK/India to prevent sphincter damage) and **midline** (common in the US). * **Option C:** Perineal tears are graded 1 to 4. A **third-degree tear** specifically involves the external and/or internal anal sphincter complex. A fourth-degree tear involves the rectal mucosa. * **Option D:** **Midline episiotomies** have several advantages: they follow the natural fibrous raphe of the perineum, leading to less bleeding, easier anatomical repair, and faster healing with less dyspareunia compared to mediolateral incisions. However, they carry a significantly higher risk of extension into the anal sphincter. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Timing:** Episiotomy should be performed during a contraction when the perineum is bulging and **3–4 cm of the scalp** is visible (crowning). * **Muscle involved:** The primary muscle cut in a mediolateral episiotomy is the **Bulbospongiosus** (and sometimes the superficial transverse perineal muscle). * **Nerve Block:** Usually performed under **Pudendal Nerve Block** or local infiltration. * **Current Practice:** Routine episiotomy is no longer recommended; restrictive/selective use is the current standard of care to prevent severe perineal trauma.

Q: Suction evacuation can be done up to what gestational age?

15 weeks. **Explanation:** Suction evacuation (also known as vacuum aspiration) is the preferred surgical method for terminating a pregnancy in the first trimester and early second trimester. **1. Why 15 weeks is correct:** According to standard obstetric guidelines (including WHO and FIGO), suction evacuation is safely performed up to **15 weeks** of gestation. While it is the gold standard for the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), advancements in cannula size and high-vacuum suction machines allow for its use in the early second trimester. Beyond 15 weeks, the fetal parts become too large and the bones too mineralized to pass through a standard suction cannula, necessitating **Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)** using forceps. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **6 weeks (A):** This is the lower limit where "Manual Vacuum Aspiration" (MVA) or medical methods are often used, but it does not represent the upper limit of the procedure's capability. * **10 weeks (B):** While suction is commonly done at this stage, it can be safely extended further. * **18 weeks (D):** By 18 weeks, the risk of uterine perforation and incomplete evacuation increases significantly with suction alone. Surgical termination at this stage requires D&E or medical induction. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **MVA vs. EVA:** Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) is generally used up to **12 weeks** (using a handheld syringe), while Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA) is used up to **15 weeks**. * **Pressure:** The ideal pressure for EVA is **600 mmHg**. * **Complications:** The most common immediate complication is **incomplete evacuation**, while the most serious is **uterine perforation**. * **MTP Act (India):** Remember that under the amended MTP Act, pregnancy can be terminated up to **24 weeks** for specific categories of women, but the *method* (medical vs. surgical) depends on the gestational age.

Q: A patient underwent suction evacuation for a 10-week pregnancy. Three days later, she presented with profuse vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Retained products of conception. **Explanation:** The clinical presentation of delayed profuse vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain following a suction evacuation is a classic sign of **Retained Products of Conception (RPOC)**. **1. Why "Retained Products of Conception" is correct:** Suction evacuation aims to completely empty the uterine cavity. If placental or fetal tissue remains, the uterus cannot contract effectively to compress the spiral arteries (the "living ligatures"). This leads to secondary postpartum/post-abortal hemorrhage. The pain is caused by the uterus attempting to expel the retained tissue through rhythmic contractions. Symptoms typically manifest a few days after the procedure, as seen in this case. **2. Why other options are incorrect:** * **Uterine Atony:** This is the most common cause of *immediate* hemorrhage following evacuation. It rarely presents for the first time three days later. * **Cervical Injury:** Lacerations to the cervix cause bright red bleeding immediately during or after the procedure, not after a three-day asymptomatic interval. * **Uterine Perforation:** While a serious complication of suction evacuation, it usually presents acutely with severe abdominal pain, signs of internal hemorrhage (tachycardia, hypotension), or peritonitis. While it can cause bleeding, the delayed presentation with cramping is more characteristic of RPOC. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gold Standard Investigation:** Pelvic Ultrasound (USG) is the initial investigation of choice to identify an echogenic mass or thickened endometrial stripe. * **Management:** Re-evacuation (D&C) under antibiotic cover is usually required. * **Triad of RPOC:** History of recent uterine procedure + Vaginal bleeding + Open cervical os/enlarged boggy uterus. * **Prophylaxis:** Always check the aspirated tissue for "villous patterns" or "fetal parts" to ensure completeness of the procedure.

Q: What is the traction force required for forceps delivery in a primigravida?

18 to 20 kg. **Explanation:** The application of traction during a forceps delivery is a critical skill that requires precise force to facilitate the descent of the fetal head while minimizing maternal and neonatal trauma. **1. Why 18 to 20 kg is correct:** In a **primigravida**, the soft tissues of the birth canal and the perineal muscles are firm and offer significant resistance. To overcome this resistance and the friction of the pelvic walls, a traction force of approximately **18 to 20 kg (40–45 lbs)** is typically required. In contrast, for a multigravida, where the tissues are more lax, the required force is lower, usually around **13 kg (25–30 lbs)**. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option A (15 kg):** This is an intermediate value but does not meet the standard threshold required to overcome the resistance in a nulliparous patient. * **Option C (13 kg):** This is the standard traction force required for a **multigravida**. Using this force in a primigravida may result in a failure of the head to descend. * **Option D (25 kg):** This force is excessive. Applying traction beyond 20-22 kg significantly increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage in the fetus and extensive third or fourth-degree perineal tears in the mother. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Direction of Traction:** Traction should always be applied in the **axis of the pelvic outlet** (initially downwards and backwards, then horizontally, and finally upwards and forwards—the "Pajot’s Maneuver"). * **Timing:** Traction must be **intermittent**, applied only during uterine contractions and synchronized with maternal bearing-down efforts. * **Trial of Forceps:** If the head does not descend with three pulls of standard force, the procedure should be abandoned in favor of a Cesarean section to avoid "failed forceps" complications. * **Prerequisite:** The cervix must be **fully dilated**, and the membranes must be ruptured before application.

Question 1

A primigravida at 36 weeks gestation has a USG revealing a complete placenta previa. The uterus is relaxed, but she starts to bleed heavily. All of the following are appropriate next steps, EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

Administer intramuscular terbutaline

Answer

Arrange for 4 units of packed red blood cells

Answer

Administer intravenous fluids

Answer

Monitor urine output strictly

Question 2

What procedure should be performed in case of aftercoming head arrest due to contracted pelvis in breech presentation?

Accepted Answer

Zavanelli maneuver

Answer

Craniotomy

Answer

Decapitation

Answer

Cleidotomy

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an operative procedure for uterine inversion?

Accepted Answer

Fentoni

Answer

O'Sullivan

Answer

Haultain

Answer

Spinelli

Question 4

What are the principal supports of the uterus?

Accepted Answer

The transverse cervical ligaments

Answer

The iliosacral ligaments

Answer

The pyriformis muscle

Answer

The infundibular ligaments

Question 5

A hemodynamically stable nulliparous patient with ectopic pregnancy has an adnexal mass of 2.5 x 3 cms and a Beta HCG titer of 1500 miu/ml. What modality of treatment is suitable for her?

Accepted Answer

Medical management

Answer

Conservative management

Answer

Laparoscopic surgery

Answer

Laparotomy

Question 6

All of the following statements are true for episiotomies except?

Accepted Answer

Allows widening of the birth canal

Answer

Can be either midline or mediolateral

Answer

Involvement of the anal sphincter is classified as a third-degree perineal tear.

Answer

Midline episiotomies bleed less, are easier to repair, and heal more quickly

Question 7

Suction evacuation can be done up to what gestational age?

Accepted Answer

15 weeks

Answer

6 weeks

Answer

10 weeks

Answer

18 weeks

Question 8

A 32-year-old primigravida woman at 20 weeks gestation has blood group O positive. Her husband has blood group AB positive. Which of the following is the most appropriate response to the patient's query, given that she and her husband have different blood groups and have already experienced a pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Newborns affected by ABO incompatibility will have only mild hemolytic disease.

Answer

ABO antigens elicit only an IgM response, which does not cross the placenta.

Answer

Antibodies to ABO antigens are not hemolytic.

Answer

She is not at risk as the immune response is depressed during pregnancy.

Question 9

A patient underwent suction evacuation for a 10-week pregnancy. Three days later, she presented with profuse vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Retained products of conception

Answer

Uterine atony

Answer

Cervical injury

Answer

Uterine perforation

Question 10

What is the traction force required for forceps delivery in a primigravida?

Accepted Answer

18 to 20 kg

Answer

15 kg

Answer

13 kg

Answer

25 kg

Operative Obstetrics — MCQs

Operative Obstetrics — MCQs

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