Top 50 High-Yield Clinical Questions & Model Answers — MBBS | MedicalNotes.in

Top 50 High-Yield Clinical Questions & Model Answers — MBBS | MedicalNotes.in

Top 50 High-Yield Clinical Questions & Model Answers for MBBS Exams

Short, exam-focused Q&A across Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pediatrics, Pharmacology and more — memorise the answer line and practise recall.

Answer-first: How to use this list

Memorise 5 questions/day.

Top 50 questions + model answers (memorise these)

Medicine

  1. 1) Approach to chest pain?Immediate ABC, 12-lead ECG, MONA if ACS suspected, urgent reperfusion pathway if STEMI; consider PE/GERD/pericarditis in DDX.
  2. 2) Causes of sudden shortness of breath?Think pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, aspiration, acute LV failure, severe asthma/COPD exacerbation.
  3. 3) Initial management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?Fluid resuscitation, IV insulin infusion, electrolyte (K+) correction and monitoring, treat precipitants.
  4. 4) Features distinguishing nephrotic vs nephritic syndrome?Nephrotic: heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia, oedema, hyperlipidaemia. Nephritic: hematuria, hypertension, oliguria, RBC casts.
  5. 5) Approach to altered sensorium?ABCs, check glucose, electrolytes, infection (sepsis, meningitis), toxins, neuro imaging for focal signs.
  6. 6) ECG signs of hyperkalemia?Peaked T waves → widened QRS → sine wave; treat with calcium, insulin+dextrose, nebulised salbutamol, dialysis if severe.
  7. 7) Red flags in acute abdominal pain?Peritonitis signs, haemodynamic instability, severe metabolic acidosis, persistent vomiting, rigid abdomen — urgent surgical review.
  8. 8) Key differences: asthma vs COPD?Asthma: atopic, reversible airflow obstruction, younger. COPD: smoking history, progressive fixed obstruction, older.
  9. 9) Diagnosis of infective endocarditis (brief)?Duke criteria: positive blood cultures + evidence of endocardial involvement (echo) — start empiric IV antibiotics after cultures.
  10. 10) Management of acute coronary syndrome (non-STEMI)?MONA, antiplatelets (aspirin + P2Y12), anticoagulation, risk stratify for early invasive management.
  11. 11) How to assess orthostatic hypotension?Measure BP supine and standing; drop ≥20 mmHg systolic or ≥10 mmHg diastolic suggests orthostatic hypotension.
  12. 12) First-line drugs for heart failure with reduced EF?ACE inhibitor (or ARB/ARNI), beta-blocker, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; diuretics for symptom control.

Surgery

  1. 13) Primary survey in trauma?Airway (with c-spine control), Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure — then secondary survey.
  2. 14) Indications for urgent laparotomy in acute abdomen?Peritonitis, free air under diaphragm with severe pain, uncontrolled hemorrhage, sepsis with acute abdomen.
  3. 15) Management of open fracture on scene?Control bleeding, cover wound with sterile dressing, splint limb, antibiotics, tetanus prophylaxis, urgent surgical fixation.
  4. 16) Signs of compartment syndrome?Pain out of proportion, pain on passive stretch, tense swelling, decreased distal pulses (late) — fasciotomy if suspected.
  5. 17) Approach to acute surgical wound infection?Assess extent, open & drain if abscess, wound care, targeted antibiotics guided by cultures.
  6. 18) Basics of appendicitis diagnosis?Periumbilical pain migrating to RIF, anorexia, fever, leukocytosis; ultrasound/CT as needed; prompt appendicectomy.
  7. 19) Indications for cholecystectomy in gallstone disease?Symptomatic cholelithiasis, acute cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, choledocholithiasis (with bile duct clearance).
  8. 20) Pre-op fasting guidelines (simple)?Adults: clear fluids up to 2 hours, solids 6+ hours depending on meal; follow anaesthesia/local protocols.
  9. 21) Management of haemorrhagic shock?Control bleeding, IV access, fluid resuscitation, blood products, urgent surgical/interventional control.
  10. 22) When to suspect necrotising fasciitis?Severe pain, rapidly spreading erythema, systemic toxicity; urgent surgical debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

  1. 23) Initial management of pre-eclampsia with severe features?BP control, magnesium sulphate for seizure prophylaxis, assess timing of delivery — obstetric review for delivery planning.
  2. 24) Active management of third stage of labour to prevent PPH?Oxytocin at delivery of anterior shoulder, controlled cord traction, uterine massage after placenta delivery.
  3. 25) Immediate steps for cord prolapse?Elevate presenting part, oxygen, tocolysis if appropriate, urgent transfer for emergency C-section.
  4. 26) First-line treatment for chlamydial infection?Azithromycin single dose or doxycycline 7 days (follow local guidelines and test-of-cure where recommended).
  5. 27) Management of PPH (first-line)?Call for help, uterine massage, IV oxytocin, check for retained products/trauma/coagulopathy; escalate to surgical management if needed.
  6. 28) Approach to amenorrhoea?Pregnancy test first; then assess hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian, outflow causes; check TSH/prolactin as indicated.

Pediatrics

  1. 29) Neonatal resuscitation priorities?Warmth, airway, breathing (bag-mask ventilation), circulation; follow NRP/ local neonatal protocol.
  2. 30) Approach to febrile child under 3 months?High index of suspicion — full septic workup, prompt empirical IV antibiotics pending cultures.
  3. 31) Signs of dehydration in children?Tachycardia, delayed capillary refill, sunken eyes/fontanelle, decreased urine output; start ORS/IV fluids per severity.
  4. 32) Common causes of failure to thrive?Inadequate intake, malabsorption, chronic infection, cardiac disease, socio-environmental factors — systematic evaluation needed.
  5. 33) Bronchiolitis management essentials?Supportive care (hydration, oxygen if hypoxic), avoid routine bronchodilators or steroids unless indicated.

Pharmacology & Toxicology

  1. 34) Antidote for opioid overdose?Naloxone — titrate IV/IM to restore respiratory drive; monitor for re-narcotisation.
  2. 35) Reversal of warfarin in major bleed?IV vitamin K plus PCC (prothrombin complex concentrate) or FFP if PCC unavailable.
  3. 36) Common drug causing QT prolongation?Some antipsychotics, macrolides, quinolones and antiemetics — check ECG and drug interactions.
  4. 37) Paracetamol overdose initial management?Activated charcoal if within 1–2h (per protocol), calculate nomogram and start N-acetylcysteine when indicated.
  5. 38) Signs of aspirin (salicylate) toxicity?Tinnitus, hyperventilation (resp alkalosis), metabolic acidosis; manage with alkalinisation and supportive care.

Microbiology & Infectious Disease

  1. 39) First-line TB diagnostic test in suspected pulmonary TB?Sputum GeneXpert/CBNAAT where available; otherwise microscopy and culture per local algorithms.
  2. 40) Common causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia?Gram-negative bacilli (Pseudomonas, Klebsiella), S. aureus — choose empiric antibiotics accordingly.
  3. 41) When to suspect sepsis and start antibiotics?Suspected infection + organ dysfunction or qSOFA criteria; take cultures and start broad-spectrum IV antibiotics promptly.
  4. 42) Prophylaxis for close contact of meningococcal meningitis?Rifampicin or ciprofloxacin per guidelines; vaccinate close contacts if indicated by serogroup and local policy.

Pathology, Hematology & Misc

  1. 43) Causes of microcytic anemia?Iron deficiency, thalassemia trait, anemia of chronic disease (early), sideroblastic anaemia — investigate with iron studies & Hb electrophoresis.
  2. 44) Approach to pancytopenia?Bone marrow suppression/infiltration, aplastic anemia, hypersplenism, megaloblastic anemia — do CBC, peripheral smear, bone marrow if indicated.
  3. 45) D-dimer utility?Good for ruling out VTE in low pretest probability; not diagnostic if positive — follow with imaging.
  4. 46) Red flags for malignancy on plain x-ray/CT?Lytic/blastic lesions, bone destruction, soft tissue mass, pathological fracture or organ invasion — urgent oncology/surgical referral.
  5. 47) When to transfuse packed red cells (general)?Symptomatic anemia or Hb threshold per guideline (often <7 g/dL in stable non-bleeding patients), consider clinical context.
  6. 48) Basic steps in DVT prophylaxis?Risk assessment, early mobilisation, LMWH/UFH in moderate-high risk, mechanical prophylaxis if anticoagulant contraindicated.
  7. 49) Approach to suspected acute stroke (within window)?Immediate CT to exclude haemorrhage, NIHSS assessment, consider thrombolysis/ thrombectomy per protocol and timeframe.
  8. 50) How to structure a 3-line management answer in viva?1) Immediate stabilisation (ABC), 2) Key investigations, 3) Definitive/next-step treatment or referral.

Printable cheat & how to practise

Tip: export this list as a PDF or print it. Use timed drills (5 questions in 15 minutes), swap with a peer, and force yourself to answer in one or two lines — that’s what examiners reward.

Short FAQ

Are these model answers enough for the exam?

They are memory-first answers for quick recall. Expand each answer in the exam with relevant signs, investigations and one-line management as needed.

Can you make this into a printable PDF pack?

Yes — reply “make Q&A PDF” and I will prepare a downloadable A4 PDF pack with 2 formats: compact (one-page per 10 Qs) and expanded (one Q per page).

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