The NEET SS Surgery 2025 exam is a gateway to super-speciality surgical courses in India. With competition rising each year, understanding the previous year questions (PYQs), mastering important topics and following a focused NEET SS Surgery preparation strategy is essential for success. Here’s a complete guide with rewritten sample questions, the latest exam pattern, recommended books and preparation tips. 

NEET SS Surgery 2025 Exam Pattern 

The exam is based on concepts from General Surgery (50%) and broad speciality feeder subjects (50%) such as ENT, Orthopaedics, Urology, Plastic Surgery and GI Surgery.

• Mode: Online (Computer-based)
• Duration: 150 minutes 
• Questions: 150 MCQs 
• Marking Scheme: +4 for each correct answer, -1 for an incorrect answer 

Expected Pattern 2025 session: 

• Increased focus on evidence-based guidelines (e.g. WHO surgical checklist, updated oncology protocols). 
• More clinical scenario-based MCQs (long stems requiring multi-step reasoning). 
• Higher weightage to oncology, GI surgery, transplant surgery, and vascular surgery. 

NEET SS Surgery Previous Year Questions 

Q. 1. A 45-year-old female presents with a painless breast lump and nipple retraction. Core biopsy shows invasive ductal carcinoma. According to NCCN guidelines, the preferred initial imaging to assess axillary lymph node status is: 

1. MRI
2. PET-CT
3. CT Chest
4. Ultrasound

Answer: A. Ultrasound 

Explanation: Axillary ultrasound is the first-line investigation for nodal staging in breast cancer because it is cost-effective, sensitive and allows fine-needle aspiration if suspicious nodes are detected. 

Q2 . During a Whipple procedure, which vessel is most critical to preserve to maintain hepatic perfusion? 

1. Left gastric artery
2. Common hepatic artery
3. Right gastroepiploic artery
4. Splenic artery

Answer: B. Common hepatic artery 

Explanation: The common hepatic artery supplies the liver; via the proper hepatic artery injury can cause catastrophic hepatic ischemia. 

Q3. A patient with blunt abdominal trauma presents with hypotension and a positive FAST scan. Despite fluids, the patient remains unstable. Next best step?

1. CT Abdomen
2. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
3. Emergency laparotomy
4. Angioembolization

Answer: C. Emergency laparotomy 

Explanation: An unstable patient with positive FAST requires immediate surgical exploration no further imaging. 

Q4. First line management for an asymptomatic 6-cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm? 

1. Watchful waiting
2. Open surgical repair
3. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)
4. Beta-blockers only

Answer: C. EVAR 

Explanation: Elective repair (open or EVAR) is indicated when the diameter ≥5.5 cm in men. EVAR is preferred when anatomy permits. 

Q5. Most likely complication within the first 72 hours post-liver transplant? 

1. Chronic rejection
2. Biliary strictures
3. CMV infection
4. Hepatic artery thrombosis

Answer: D. Hepatic artery thrombosis 

Explanation: Early hepatic artery thrombosis is a feared vascular complication leading to graft failure if not promptly treated. 

Q6. Which of the following is NOT a standard component of a Whipple’s procedure? 

1. Distal gastrectomy
2. Pancreaticoduodenectomy
3. Cholecystectomy
4. Hepaticojejunostomy

Answer: A. Distal Gastrectomy 

Explanation: Classical Whipple includes pancreaticoduodenectomy, cholecystectomy, and biliary-enteric anastomosis. Distal gastrectomy is optional only in some extended resections. 

Q7. Which anastomotic technique best reduces the risk of leak in low anterior resection? 

1. End-to-end hand-sewn
2. End-to-side stapled
3. Side-to-side stapled
4. Double-stapled end-to-end

Answer: D. Double-stapled end-to-end 

Explanation: The double-stapled technique facilitates a secure, tension-free anastomosis deep in the pelvis. 

Q8. Bariatric procedure with the highest micronutrient deficiency risk: 

1. Adjustable gastric banding
2. Sleeve gastrectomy
3. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
4. Intragastric balloon

Answer: C. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 

Explanation: This procedure causes both restriction and malabsorption, thereby increasing the risk of deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and fat-soluble vitamins. 

Q9. Most commonly used flap for autologous breast reconstruction post-mastectomy? 

1. Latissimus dorsi flap
2. B. TRAM flap
3. C. Gracilis flap
4. D. DIEP flap

Answer: B. TRAM flap 

Q10. The most important prognostic factor in extremity soft tissue sarcoma is: 

1. Tumour grade
2. Tumour size
3. Lymph node involvement
4. Patient age

Answer: A. Tumour grade 

Explanation: Histologic grade (degree of differentiation, mitotic count, necrosis) correlates best with metastatic risk and survival. 

Q11. First-line management of T1 glottic carcinoma with normal vocal cord mobility: 

1. Total laryngectomy
2.  Radiotherapy
3. Partial laryngectomy
4. Chemoradiation

Answer: B. Radiotherapy

Explanation: Early-stage glottic cancers are best treated with definitive radiotherapy or endoscopic cordectomy to preserve voice. 

Q12. Not a component of the Revised Trauma Score (RTS): 

1. Systolic blood pressure
2. Respiratory rate
3. Glasgow Coma Scale
4. Heart rate

Answer: D. Heart rate 

Explanation: RTS uses GCS, systolic BP and respiratory rate only. 

Q13. Genetic mutations strongly associated with medullary carcinoma thyroid: 

1. BRAF V600E
2. RET proto-oncogene
3. p53
4. RAS

Answer: B. RET proto-oncogene

Explanation: Germline RET mutations are found in familial and MEN2-associated medullary carcinoma. 

Q14. Most sensitive preoperative localisation study for primary hyperparathyroidism: 

1. High-resolution neck ultrasound
2. 99mTc-sestamibi scan
3. MRI neck
4. CT angiography

Answer: B. 99mTc-sestamibi scan 

Explanation: Sestamibi scan has the highest sensitivity for detecting adenomas, especially ectopic ones. 

15. Compared with laparoscopy, robotic surgery offers the greatest technical advantage in: 

1. Two-dimensional visualisation
2. Haptic feedback
3. Endo-wrist articulation
4. Faster setup time

Answer: C. Endo-wrist articulation 

Explanation: Robotic arms provide 7 degrees of freedom, improving dexterity for complex suturing.

NEET SS Surgery Preparation Strategy 

1. Foundation first, revise Bailey & Love, Schwartz and Sabiston for core principles. 
2. MCQ practice, attempt daily questions or QBank from online platforms like DigiNerve. 
3. Read updated guidelines from NCCN, WHO and the Indian Surgical Society recommendations. 
4. Take full-length mock exams to improve time management and integrate clinical reasoning. 

Best Books for Surgery in MBBS 

• Bailey & Love’s Short Practice of Surgery- Core reference for general surgery. 
• Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery: Conceptual clarity and evidence-based updates. 
• Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: Operative details and current guidelines.
• SRB’s Manual of Surgery: Quick revision for Indian exams. 

Important Topics for NEET SS Surgery 

Focus on these high-yield areas: 

• GI Surgery: Pancreatic tumours, colorectal cancer, bariatric surgery. 
• Oncology: Breast cancer management, sarcoma protocols, melanoma. 
• Trauma & Critical Care: ATLS updates, abdominal trauma, damage control. 
• Transplant Surgery: Liver & Kidney complications, immunology. 
• Endocrine Surgery: Thyroid malignancies, adrenal tumours, MEN syndromes. 
• Vascular Surgery: Aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy. 
• Minimally Invasive Surgery: Laparoscopy, robotic surgery principles. 

A strong conceptual base, relentless MCQ practice and familiarity with guideline-driven management are key to cracking NEET SS Surgery 2025. 

Use these practice questions to identify weak areas, revise core surgery textbooks and stay updated with current evidence. 

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