Preoperative & Postoperative Care — General Surgery

Preoperative & Postoperative Care MCQs: practice questions

Sample Preoperative & Postoperative Care multiple-choice questions from General Surgery.

1. A patient develops fever, tachycardia, and purulent drainage from the incision. The most likely diagnosis is

   • A. Smoking cessation
   • B. Postoperative hemorrhage
   • C. Hematoma
   • D. Surgical-site infection
   • E. Respiratory depression

2. Which finding is typical of wound dehiscence?

   • A. Seroma
   • B. Deep venous thrombosis
   • C. Evaluate for source control and treat the infection appropriately
   • D. Separation of fascial or wound layers
   • E. Smoking cessation

3. A postoperative patient has severe pain, hypotension, and falling hemoglobin. What should be suspected?

   • A. Electrocardiogram
   • B. Bleeding, infection, pulmonary embolism, and pain
   • C. Deep venous thrombosis
   • D. Postoperative urinary retention
   • E. Postoperative hemorrhage

4. Which preoperative test is most appropriately ordered based on clinical indication rather than routinely in every patient?

   • A. Hypokalemia
   • B. Fever with dysuria and pyuria
   • C. Electrocardiogram
   • D. Early mobilization, adequate analgesia, and lung expansion maneuvers
   • E. Deep venous thrombosis

5. A patient taking chronic corticosteroids is at risk of

   • A. Adrenal insufficiency during major physiologic stress
   • B. Identify modifiable risks and optimize the patient before surgery
   • C. Ileus
   • D. Early ambulation
   • E. A patient with uncontrolled diabetes

6. Which complication is particularly associated with opioid use after surgery?

7. A patient with chronic anticoagulation requires surgery. The perioperative plan should primarily balance

8. Which preoperative intervention most directly reduces pulmonary complications in smokers?

9. Which electrolyte abnormality can worsen ileus?

10. Which history is essential before administering anesthesia?

11. Which patient is at increased risk for postoperative wound infection?

12. Which postoperative wound complication occurs when a fluid collection contains clear serous fluid?

13. A postoperative patient has fever on day 1 without localizing signs. The most appropriate response is

14. Which principle best describes postoperative fluid management?

15. Which intervention is central to prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism?

16. A patient cannot void several hours after surgery. Which complication is likely?

17. A patient develops wound erythema and purulent drainage several days after surgery. The most important management principle is

18. Which finding suggests a urinary tract infection rather than simple postoperative urinary retention?

19. Which postoperative respiratory complication is particularly common after upper abdominal surgery?

20. Which postoperative intervention most directly reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism in a patient who can safely ambulate?

21. Which postoperative complication can occur after prolonged immobilization and present with unilateral leg swelling?

22. Why should postoperative pain be treated adequately?

23. The primary purpose of preoperative risk assessment is to

24. Which intervention helps reduce postoperative atelectasis?

25. A postoperative wound contains a collection of blood. This is called a

26. Which intervention reduces postoperative ileus and thrombotic complications simultaneously?

27. A postoperative patient has persistent tachycardia without an obvious cause. Which serious complications should be considered?

28. Which postoperative finding most strongly suggests pulmonary embolism?

29. A postoperative patient has abdominal distension, absent bowel sounds, and no mechanical transition point. The likely diagnosis is

30. Which postoperative complication presents with acute unilateral calf pain and swelling?