Vascular Surgery Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following is false about Popliteal entrapment syndrome?

Mainly due to atherosclerosis. **Explanation:** **Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome (PES)** is a developmental vascular anomaly, not a degenerative one. 1. **Why Option A is correct (The False Statement):** Popliteal entrapment syndrome is a **congenital anatomical variation**, not caused by atherosclerosis. It occurs due to an embryonic error in the development of the popliteal artery or the surrounding musculature (most commonly the medial head of the gastrocnemius). While chronic entrapment can lead to secondary intimal damage and premature localized atherosclerosis, the primary etiology is mechanical compression. 2. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option B:** Exercise-induced calf claudication is the classic presentation. It typically affects young, athletic individuals (often males under 30) who present with leg pain during exertion due to the muscle compressing the artery. * **Option C:** A hallmark clinical sign is the **diminution or disappearance of pedal pulses** during active plantar flexion or passive dorsiflexion of the ankle, as these maneuvers tighten the gastrocnemius muscle against the artery. * **Option D:** The most common anatomical defect (Type I and II) involves an **abnormal relationship** where the popliteal artery follows a medial course around the medial head of the gastrocnemius or the muscle itself originates more laterally than normal. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Demographics:** Young athletes with no cardiovascular risk factors presenting with claudication. * **Classification:** There are 6 types; **Type VI** is "Functional Entrapment" (no anatomical anomaly, just hypertrophied muscles). * **Diagnosis:** Gold standard is **Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)** or MR Angiography with provocative maneuvers (stress views). * **Treatment:** Surgical release of the compressing band or muscle (myotomy) and arterial reconstruction if damaged.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a venous ulcer?

Deep pale wound bed. **Explanation:** Venous ulcers (stasis ulcers) result from chronic venous insufficiency and venous hypertension. The correct answer is **B (Deep pale wound bed)** because this is a classic feature of **arterial ulcers**, not venous ones. 1. **Why Option B is the correct answer:** Venous ulcers are typically **superficial** and have a **beefy red, granular wound bed** due to high vascularity and exudate. A "deep, pale, or necrotic" wound bed indicates poor arterial perfusion (ischemia), which is characteristic of arterial ulcers (e.g., Atherosclerosis or Buerger’s disease). 2. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Irregular wound margins (A):** Venous ulcers are known for shaggy, irregular borders, unlike the "punched-out" neat edges of arterial ulcers. * **Usually no pain (C):** While they can be achy, venous ulcers are relatively painless compared to the excruciating pain associated with ischemic arterial ulcers. * **Ruddy, granular tissue (D):** This reflects healthy granulation tissue forming in a highly congested, vascular environment. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Location:** Venous ulcers occur in the **"Gaiter Zone"** (medial malleolus). Arterial ulcers occur on pressure points, toes, or the lateral malleolus. * **Associated Findings:** Look for **Lipodermatosclerosis** (inverted champagne bottle leg), **hemosiderin staining** (brownish discoloration), and varicose veins. * **Investigation of Choice:** Venous Doppler (to assess reflux). * **Treatment Gold Standard:** Compression therapy (e.g., **Unna boot** or four-layer bandaging). *Note: Compression is contraindicated in arterial ulcers.*

Q: CABG is done for all of the following indications except?

To prevent progression of native blood vessel disease. **Explanation:** Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is a revascularization procedure designed to bypass obstructive lesions in the coronary arteries. It is crucial to understand that while CABG provides a new conduit for blood flow, it **does not stop the underlying pathophysiology of atherosclerosis** in the native vessels. In fact, native vessel disease often continues to progress, and the bypass grafts themselves (especially venous grafts) are susceptible to atherosclerosis over time. **Analysis of Options:** * **Option D (Correct):** CABG is a mechanical solution to a biological problem. It improves distal perfusion but does not alter the systemic risk factors (like diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia) that drive the progression of native coronary artery disease. * **Option A:** Reducing symptoms (angina) is a primary indication for CABG, especially in patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. * **Option B:** CABG is performed to prevent "catastrophes" such as acute myocardial infarction and heart failure by stabilizing blood supply to the myocardium. * **Option C:** Prolonging life (mortality benefit) is a proven indication for CABG in specific subsets, such as Left Main Stem disease, triple-vessel disease with low EF, or involvement of the proximal LAD. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gold Standard Graft:** The **Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA)** is the graft of choice for the LAD due to its superior long-term patency (90% at 10 years). * **Most Common Venous Graft:** The Great Saphenous Vein. * **Indications for Mortality Benefit:** 1. Left Main Disease (>50% stenosis). 2. Triple Vessel Disease (especially with decreased EF). 3. Two-vessel disease involving the proximal LAD. 4. Diabetic patients with multivessel disease.

Q: What is the most common site for emboli to lodge in the lower limb?

Bifurcation of common femoral artery. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **D. Bifurcation of common femoral artery.** **1. Why the Common Femoral Artery (CFA) Bifurcation is correct:** Emboli typically lodge at sites where the arterial caliber suddenly narrows, most commonly at **arterial bifurcations** or points of tapering. In the lower limb, the **bifurcation of the common femoral artery** into the superficial femoral and profunda femoris arteries is the most frequent site (accounting for approximately 35-40% of lower limb cases). This is because the CFA is a large vessel that abruptly divides into two smaller branches, creating a mechanical trap for migrating clots, usually originating from the heart (atrial fibrillation). **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Popliteal artery:** This is the **second most common** site for embolic lodgment (approx. 15-20%). While common, it occurs less frequently than the femoral bifurcation. * **B & C. Dorsalis pedis and Posterior tibial arteries:** These are distal, smaller-caliber vessels. While emboli can reach these sites (distal embolization), most clinically significant emboli are large enough to be trapped at more proximal, larger bifurcations (Femoral or Iliac). **3. Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Most common source of emboli:** The Heart (80%), specifically due to **Atrial Fibrillation** or post-MI mural thrombi. * **Most common site in the entire body:** The **Femoral Artery bifurcation** is the most common site overall for peripheral arterial emboli. * **The "6 Ps" of Acute Ischemia:** Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia (coldness). * **Management:** The gold standard for retrieval is **Fogarty catheter embolectomy**. * **Order of frequency in lower limb:** Common Femoral > Popliteal > Iliac > Aortic saddle embolus.

Q: Surgery for varicose veins is contraindicated by even stripping in?

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). **Explanation:** The primary contraindication for varicose vein surgery (including Trendelenburg procedure and stripping) is **Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)**. **1. Why DVT is the Correct Answer:** In patients with varicose veins, the superficial venous system is dilated and incompetent. However, if the deep venous system is occluded (as in DVT), the superficial veins become the **sole pathway** for venous return from the lower limb. If these superficial veins are stripped or ligated in the presence of DVT, the venous outflow is completely obstructed, leading to severe venous congestion, phlegmasia cerulea dolens, and potential limb loss. Therefore, a **Perthes' Test** or Duplex Ultrasound must always be performed to ensure deep vein patency before surgery. **2. Analysis of Other Options:** * **Atherosclerosis:** While severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) requires caution during any limb surgery, it is not an absolute contraindication for varicose vein stripping unless there is critical limb ischemia. However, it does not fundamentally change the venous hemodynamics in the way DVT does. * **None of the above:** Incorrect, as DVT is a well-established absolute contraindication. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Absolute Contraindications for Varicose Vein Surgery:** DVT, pregnancy (veins often regress postpartum), and severe lymphoedema. * **Gold Standard Investigation:** Duplex Ultrasound (to assess the saphenofemoral junction and deep system). * **Brodie-Trendelenburg Test:** Used to differentiate between saphenofemoral incompetence and perforator incompetence. * **Complication of Stripping:** Injury to the **Saphenous nerve** (medial ankle numbness) or **Sural nerve** (if stripping the short saphenous vein).

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the modified Perthes test?

Accepted Answer

It is solely a subjective test.

Answer

A tourniquet is applied below the saphenofemoral junction.

Answer

Absence of perforator incompetence is required to perform this test.

Answer

Shrinkage of varicose veins upon testing suggests normal deep venous function.

Question 2

Which of the following clinical manifestations is most characteristic of a gastrinoma?

Accepted Answer

Post-prandial abdominal pain, weight loss, chronic mesenteric vessel occlusion

Answer

Post-prandial abdominal pain, weight loss, acute mesenteric vessel occlusion

Answer

Pre-prandial abdominal pain, weight gain, acute mesenteric vessel occlusion

Answer

Pre-prandial abdominal pain, weight gain, chronic mesenteric vessel occlusion

Question 3

Thrombo-angiitis Obliterans (Buerger's disease) primarily affects which of the following vascular structures?

Accepted Answer

Arteriovenous fistulas

Answer

Arteries

Answer

Veins

Answer

Nerves

Question 4

The commonest site of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms is NOT related to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Left retroperitoneum

Answer

Answer

Posterior

Answer

Right retroperitoneum

Question 5

Which of the following is false about Popliteal entrapment syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Mainly due to atherosclerosis

Answer

Exercise induced calf claudication

Answer

Decreased ankle pulse on ankle flexion

Answer

Abnormal relation between the medial head of the gastrocnemius and the popliteal artery

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a venous ulcer?

Accepted Answer

Deep pale wound bed

Answer

Irregular wound margins

Answer

Usually no pain

Answer

Ruddy, granular tissue

Question 7

CABG is done for all of the following indications except?

Accepted Answer

To prevent progression of native blood vessel disease

Answer

To reduce symptoms

Answer

To prevent further catastrophes

Answer

To prolong life

Question 8

What is the most common site for emboli to lodge in the lower limb?

Accepted Answer

Bifurcation of common femoral artery

Answer

Popliteal artery

Answer

Dorsalis pedis artery

Answer

Posterior tibial artery

Question 9

A smoker patient presents with an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 44 mm diameter with non-specific abdominal pain. What is the ideal management?

Accepted Answer

Surgical intervention when the diameter becomes greater than 55 mm

Answer

Immediate surgical intervention

Answer

Serial ultrasonography advised until it becomes 77 mm in diameter

Answer

No treatment is needed

Question 10

Surgery for varicose veins is contraindicated by even stripping in?

Accepted Answer

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Answer

Atherosclerosis

Answer

None of the above

Vascular Surgery — MCQs

Vascular Surgery — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?