FCPS IMM Surgery General Surgery MCQs: High-Yield Practice Questions & Prep
Sample FCPS IMM Surgery general surgery MCQs on hernias, the acute abdomen, thyroid and breast basics, wound care and surgical principles, with the reasoning behind every answer.
General Surgery is one of the subject blocks in the FCPS IMM Surgery QBank. It covers hernias, the acute abdomen, thyroid and breast basics, wound care and surgical principles. Below is a sample set in the style of the bank, with the reasoning after each answer.
Sample MCQs
1. Which analgesic is traditionally preferred in acute pancreatitis?
- A) Morphine
- B) Pethidine ✅
- C) Paracetamol alone
- D) Aspirin
Why: Pethidine causes less spasm of the sphincter of Oddi than morphine.
2. What is the commonest level of lumbar disc prolapse?
- A) L1-L2
- B) L2-L3
- C) L5-S1 only
- D) L4-L5 ✅
Why: L4-L5 and L5-S1 account for most lumbar disc herniations, L4-L5 being most common.
3. A major pancreatic duct injury to the left of the SMA is treated by:
- A) Distal pancreatectomy ✅
- B) Whipple procedure
- C) Drainage only
- D) Observation
Why: Left-sided ductal injuries are managed by distal resection.
4. A pancreatic pseudocyst appears after how long following acute pancreatitis?
- A) 1 week
- B) 2 days
- C) 6 months
- D) 4-6 weeks ✅
Why: A pseudocyst has a wall of granulation tissue that matures after about 4 weeks.
5. A 10-cm laceration 12 hours old should be managed by:
- A) Primary closure
- B) Debridement and dressing (delayed primary closure) ✅
- C) Leave open permanently
- D) Antibiotics only
Why: Wounds older than 6-8 hours are contaminated and treated with debridement.
6. Osteitis fibrosa cystica is associated with what?
- A) Primary hyperparathyroidism ✅
- B) Hypoparathyroidism
- C) Paget disease
- D) Osteopetrosis
Why: Brown tumours and subperiosteal resorption occur in hyperparathyroidism.
7. Papillary fibroelastomas resemble:
- A) Vegetations ✅
- B) Polyps
- C) Lipomas
- D) Thrombi
Why: Papillary fibroelastomas resemble vegetations on the valves and can embolise.
8. An interval appendectomy for appendicular mass is performed after how long?
- A) 1 week
- B) 24 hours
- C) 1 year
- D) About 6 weeks ✅
Why: Appendicular mass is first treated conservatively; interval appendectomy follows in about 6-8 weeks.
9. Perioperative myocardial infarction occurs following coronary bypass procedures in approximately:
- A) 15%.
- B) 10%.
- C) 7%.
- D) Less than 5%. ✅
Why: Following improvements in myocardial protection and coronary grafting techniques, perioperative myocardial infarction now occurs in less that 2% to 4% of patients in most series.
10. Halothane is combined with which agent to enhance analgesia and induction?
- A) Ether
- B) Isoflurane
- C) Nitrous oxide ✅
- D) Sevoflurane
Why: N2O has good analgesia and fast onset, complementing halothane.
How to Study This Block
- Practise the acute abdomen as a decision tree: diagnosis, investigation, then operation.
- Know hernia anatomy and the complications of each type.
- Revise perioperative care: fluids, antibiotics, DVT prophylaxis and nutrition.
Each subject in the QBank can be filtered on its own, so you can drill general surgery until your accuracy is stable. Confirm the exam format and syllabus against the current CPSP guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is general surgery tested clinically or by recall?
Mostly as short clinical scenarios asking for the diagnosis, the next investigation or the best operation.
Where do I go for the sub-specialty blocks?
Urology, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic, plastics and the others each have their own subject filter in the QBank.
Practise With the Full QBank
The FCPS IMM Surgery QBank has a free trial batch in Tutor mode, subject filters and Timed mode. Related: complete exam guide, how to use recalls.
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