Pre- and post-operative care: RCSI aptitude test practice questions
About this topic
Pre- and post-operative care on the RCSI theory paper
Pre-operative assessment, consent and fasting, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, TED stockings, surgical site infection.
20 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation and the document it was checked against. Three questions are free; the pass opens the other 17 and every other topic. Wrong answers come back first the next time you practise, and a question counts as mastered after two correct answers in a row.
Sample questions from this topic
Question 1
What criteria must a day-case patient meet before discharge from recovery, according to MedlinePlus?
- ADrinking and eating something light, with instructions given
- BTemperature normal and wound dressing changed
- CSlept for several hours, eaten a full meal and had the dressing changed
- DPassed urine, walked the length of the ward and had a full meal
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Answer: A. MedlinePlus: before a day-case patient leaves recovery they should be able to drink and eat something light, and receive follow-up appointment details, new prescriptions and activity instructions (pain control is listed for patients staying in). Passing urine is a local criterion after some procedures but not the MedlinePlus list.
Question 2
Why does the NHS stress moving around as soon as possible after an operation?
- AIt shortens the fasting period after anaesthesia
- BIt improves blood flow, healing and muscle strength
- CIt allows the drain to be removed earlier
- DIt reduces the need for post-operative antibiotics
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Answer: B. NHS Having an operation, recovery: moving around as soon as possible encourages blood flow, helps wounds heal and builds muscle strength, lowering the risk of blood clots, chest infection and deconditioning.
Question 3
Which post-operative signs suggest a deep vein thrombosis?
- AThrobbing calf or thigh pain with swelling and warm skin
- BA dry cough with a sore throat after the anaesthetic airway
- CItching and redness around the wound edges on day two
- DConstipation and abdominal bloating
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Answer: A. HSE deep vein thrombosis: the symptoms are usually throbbing or pain in the calf or thigh that is worse when walking, swelling (usually in one leg) of the ankle or calf, and calf skin that is warm to touch; it needs an urgent GP or hospital review. Most DVT happens in people who are, or recently were, in hospital, especially when they cannot move around much after an operation. A clot that breaks loose and lodges in the lungs is a pulmonary embolism, so sudden breathlessness or chest pain is an emergency.
Source: HSE: Deep vein thrombosis, symptoms and who is more likely to get DVT
The practice above shuffles the options each time and keeps your score. 30 more free questions across the paper, with a PDF.
Documents behind these questions
Every fact was checked against the public document named on the answer. This topic draws on:
- HSE National Policy and Procedure for Safe Surgery (2022), section 3 and definitions
- NICE NG45 Routine preoperative tests for elective surgery (2016), ASA grades
- BSH, Pre-transfusion compatibility procedures in blood transfusion laboratories (2012, reviewed 2017), s. 5, 7.5 and 3
- HSE: MRSA
- NHS: Having an operation, preparation
- MedlinePlus: The day of your surgery
- NHS: Having an operation, getting back to normal
- HSE: Deep vein thrombosis, symptoms and who is more likely to get DVT