Vascular Surgery Practice Questions

Q: All of the following are true about embolic arterial occlusion except?

Muscles are unaffected. In acute arterial occlusion caused by an embolus, the sudden cessation of blood flow leads to rapid tissue ischemia. The correct answer is **B (Muscles are unaffected)** because it is a **false** statement; in reality, muscles are highly sensitive to ischemia and are severely affected. ### **Explanation of Options:** * **B. Muscles are unaffected (Correct Answer - False Statement):** Skeletal muscle is the tissue most vulnerable to ischemia in a limb. Within 4–6 hours of occlusion, muscle necrosis begins, leading to paralysis and "woody" hardness. If the occlusion is not relieved, irreversible damage occurs. * **A. No previous history:** Unlike thrombosis (which occurs over pre-existing atherosclerosis/claudication), an embolus is a sudden event. Patients typically have a "silent" vascular history but may have predisposing factors like Atrial Fibrillation. * **C. Pulse is absent:** This is a hallmark of acute limb ischemia. The pulse is absent distal to the site of the embolus (most commonly the femoral artery bifurcation). * **D. Anesthesia is present:** Ischemia affects peripheral nerves early, leading to paresthesia followed by complete anesthesia (loss of sensation). ### **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **The 6 P’s of Acute Ischemia:** Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia (coldness). * **Most Common Source:** The heart (80%), usually due to Atrial Fibrillation or post-MI mural thrombus. * **Most Common Site of Impact:** Femoral artery bifurcation. * **Gold Standard Treatment:** Immediate anticoagulation with Heparin and surgical **Fogarty catheter embolectomy**. * **Time Sensitivity:** The "Golden Period" for limb salvage is **6 hours**. Beyond this, reperfusion injury and compartment syndrome become major risks.

Q: Which one of the following is the investigation of choice for suspected deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity?

Duplex ultrasonography. **Explanation:** **Duplex Ultrasonography (Option D)** is the investigation of choice (IOC) for suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) because it is non-invasive, highly sensitive (>95%), and specific. It combines B-mode imaging (to assess anatomical compressibility) and Doppler (to assess blood flow). The most reliable diagnostic sign of DVT on ultrasound is the **loss of vein compressibility**. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Radioactive labelled fibrinogen uptake (Option A):** This was historically used to detect forming clots but is no longer used clinically due to high false-positive rates, inability to detect established clots, and risk of blood-borne infections. * **Ascending contrast phlebography (Option B):** This is the **Gold Standard** investigation. However, it is invasive, painful, and carries risks like contrast allergy or inducing "post-venographic thrombosis." It is reserved for cases where Duplex USG is inconclusive. * **D-dimer estimation (Option C):** This is a highly sensitive but non-specific screening test. Its primary clinical utility lies in its **Negative Predictive Value**; a negative D-dimer helps rule out DVT in low-risk patients, but a positive result does not confirm it. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Initial Screening:** D-dimer (best to rule out). * **Investigation of Choice:** Duplex Ultrasonography. * **Gold Standard:** Contrast Venography (Phlebography). * **Phlegmasia Alba Dolens:** "Milk leg" (early stage, pale limb due to spasm). * **Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens:** "Blue leg" (advanced stage, cyanosis, risk of gangrene). * **Virchow’s Triad:** Stasis, Hypercoagulability, and Endothelial injury.

Q: What is the mortality rate of emergency operations for abdominal aortic aneurysms?

50%. **Explanation:** The mortality rate for an emergency operation for a ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) remains high, typically around **50%**. This is due to the catastrophic nature of the event, which involves massive retroperitoneal or intraperitoneal hemorrhage, leading to profound hemorrhagic shock, coagulopathy, and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). * **Why 50% is correct:** Despite advancements in vascular surgery and intensive care, the "rule of 50s" often applies to ruptured AAA: approximately 50% of patients die before reaching the hospital, and of those who undergo emergency surgery, approximately 50% do not survive the perioperative period. * **Why A (1%) and B (5%) are incorrect:** These figures represent the mortality rates for **elective (planned)** AAA repairs. Modern elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has a mortality rate of ~1%, while open elective repair is approximately 3-5%. * **Why C (20%) is incorrect:** While 20% might represent the mortality of high-risk elective cases or symptomatic (but not yet ruptured) aneurysms, it significantly underestimates the lethality of a true emergency rupture. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Classic Triad of Ruptured AAA:** Hypotension, pulsatile abdominal mass, and acute abdominal/back pain. * **Screening:** USG is the investigation of choice for screening; CT Angiography is the gold standard for surgical planning. * **Indications for Surgery:** Asymptomatic AAA >5.5 cm in men (>5.0 cm in women), or any aneurysm increasing in size by >0.5 cm in 6 months. * **Permissive Hypotension:** In ruptured AAA, maintaining a lower-than-normal blood pressure (systolic 70-90 mmHg) is often preferred pre-operatively to prevent dislodging a clot until the aorta is clamped.

Q: Pulsating varicose veins in a young adult are most commonly due to which of the following?

Arteriovenous fistula. **Explanation:** **Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula** is the correct answer because it involves an abnormal direct communication between an artery and a vein, bypassing the capillary bed. In a young adult, this is often congenital or traumatic. Because arterial blood is under high pressure, it is shunted directly into the low-pressure venous system. This "arterialization" of the veins causes them to dilate (varicosities) and exhibit **visible pulsations** and a palpable thrill/bruit, which are pathognomonic features not seen in simple varicose veins. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Saphenofemoral Incompetence:** This is the most common cause of standard varicose veins due to valvular failure. While it causes venous engorgement and reflux, the pressure remains venous; therefore, the veins do not pulsate. * **Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT):** DVT typically leads to secondary varicose veins (post-thrombotic syndrome) due to outflow obstruction and valvular damage. These veins are distended but non-pulsatile. * **Abdominal Tumor:** A tumor (e.g., pelvic mass) can cause varicose veins by compressing the iliac veins or IVC, leading to proximal obstruction. This results in venous hypertension, but not pulsation. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Nicoladoni-Branham Sign:** Bradycardia occurring upon manual compression of the feeding artery of an AV fistula (due to a sudden increase in peripheral resistance and reflex vagal stimulation). * **Clinical Triad of Congenital AVF:** Port-wine stain, limb hypertrophy, and varicose veins (often associated with **Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome**). * **Investigation of Choice:** Duplex Ultrasound is the initial screen, but **Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)** remains the gold standard for anatomical mapping.

Q: What is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major vascular surgery?

Cardiac complications. **Explanation:** **Cardiac complications** are the leading cause of both perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major vascular surgery (e.g., aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, or peripheral bypass). **Why Cardiac Complications are the Correct Answer:** Patients requiring major vascular surgery typically suffer from systemic **atherosclerosis**. The same disease process affecting the peripheral or aortic vessels is almost always present in the coronary arteries. The physiological stress of major surgery—including massive fluid shifts, blood loss, and the hemodynamic "clamping and unclamping" of major vessels—places an immense strain on the myocardium. This often triggers myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, or congestive heart failure, which account for the majority of postoperative deaths. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Renal complications:** While acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant risk, especially in aortic surgery due to suprarenal clamping or contrast use, it is less common as a primary cause of death compared to cardiac events. * **Thromboembolic phenomenon:** While DVT and PE are risks in any major surgery, aggressive prophylaxis protocols in vascular units have reduced their contribution to overall mortality. * **Coagulopathies:** These are usually a consequence of massive transfusion or intraoperative blood loss. While they complicate the surgical course, they are generally manageable and rarely the primary cause of long-term morbidity/mortality. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Goldman’s Cardiac Risk Index** or the **Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI)** are used preoperatively to assess these patients. * **Beta-blockers and Statins:** Often continued or initiated perioperatively to reduce the risk of adverse cardiac events. * **Most common cause of late death** (years after surgery) in vascular patients is also Myocardial Infarction.

Q: A useful though temporary improvement in a patient's ischaemic foot can be attained by giving intravenously?

Dextran 40. **Explanation:** In patients with acute or chronic limb-threatening ischemia, the primary goal is to improve microcirculatory perfusion. **Dextran 40** (Low Molecular Weight Dextran) is the correct choice because it acts as a **rheological agent**. It improves blood flow through the following mechanisms: 1. **Reduction of Blood Viscosity:** It expands plasma volume and hemodilutes the blood. 2. **Anti-platelet Effect:** It coats platelets and the vascular endothelium, reducing platelet aggregation. 3. **Prevention of Sludging:** It increases the electronegativity of red blood cells (RBCs), causing them to repel each other, which prevents "rouleaux formation" and microvascular plugging. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **10% Mannitol:** An osmotic diuretic used primarily to reduce intracranial or intraocular pressure. While it can reduce tissue edema in compartment syndrome, it does not provide the specific rheological benefits required for ischemic limb salvage. * **10% Dextrose:** A hypertonic glucose solution used for calorie supplementation or treating hypoglycemia. It has no significant effect on microcirculation or blood viscosity. * **Dextran 100:** This is a high molecular weight dextran. Unlike Dextran 40, higher molecular weight dextrans can actually *increase* blood viscosity and promote RBC aggregation, which would worsen ischemia. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Dextran 40** is also known as **Rheomacrodex**. * **Side Effects:** The most serious side effect of Dextran is **anaphylaxis**. It can also cause acute renal failure (due to tubular plugging) and bleeding diathesis. * **Contraindication:** It should be avoided in patients with congestive heart failure (due to volume overload) and pre-existing renal impairment.

Question 1

Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins uses which agent?

Accepted Answer

Phenol

Answer

Absolute alcohol

Answer

70% alcohol

Answer

All of the above

Question 2

Which statement is not true regarding thoracic outlet syndrome?

Accepted Answer

The radial nerve is commonly affected.

Answer

Neurological features are the most common presentation.

Answer

Resection of the first rib can relieve symptoms.

Answer

A positive Adson's test is indicative of the condition.

Question 3

All of the following are true about embolic arterial occlusion except?

Accepted Answer

Muscles are unaffected

Answer

No previous history

Answer

Pulse is absent

Answer

Anesthesia is present

Question 4

What is the most frequent complication after resection of a carotid body tumor?

Accepted Answer

Superior laryngeal nerve injury

Answer

First-bite syndrome

Answer

Hypoglossal nerve injury

Answer

Baroreceptor failure with fluctuations in blood pressure

Question 5

What is an absolute contraindication for endovenous ablation in varicose veins?

Accepted Answer

Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Answer

Varicose ulcer

Answer

Pregnancy

Answer

Chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Question 6

Which one of the following is the investigation of choice for suspected deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity?

Accepted Answer

Duplex ultrasonography

Answer

Radioactive labelled fibrinogen uptake

Answer

Ascending contrast phlebography

Answer

D-dimer estimation

Question 7

What is the mortality rate of emergency operations for abdominal aortic aneurysms?

Accepted Answer

50%

Answer

1%

Answer

5%

Answer

20%

Question 8

Pulsating varicose veins in a young adult are most commonly due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Arteriovenous fistula

Answer

Saphenofemoral incompetence

Answer

Deep vein thrombosis

Answer

Abdominal tumor

Question 9

What is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major vascular surgery?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac complications

Answer

Renal complications

Answer

Thromboembolic phenomenon

Answer

Coagulopathies

Question 10

A useful though temporary improvement in a patient's ischaemic foot can be attained by giving intravenously?

Accepted Answer

Dextran 40

Answer

10% Mannitol

Answer

10% Dextrose

Answer

Dextran 100

Vascular Surgery — MCQs

Vascular Surgery — MCQs

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