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DNB General Surgery Previous Year Questions

These are the DNB General Surgery theory questions asked by NBEMS in the December 2025 and June 2025 exams, listed paper by paper as they appeared. The Prep DNB app has all 25 DNB sessions from June 2014 to December 2025 — 1,000 questions in total — with repeat-question tracking, examiner keywords and MCQs.

Jump to: December 2025 · June 2025 · Important topics · Older papers

DNB General Surgery December 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Discuss the role of antibiotic use in various classes of surgery in reference to type of wound classification. [10]
  2. a) Informed consent. [5] b) Meta-analysis. [5]
  3. a) Principles of electrosurgery. [5] b) Methods of hemostasis in surgical practice. [5]
  4. a) Day care surgery. [5] b) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. [5]
  5. Discuss various methods of sterilization in surgical practice. [10]
  6. a) Types and indications of surgical drains. [5] b) Step-up approach to pain management in surgical patient. [5]
  7. a) Describe the various types of extra-corporeal knots used in laparoscopic surgery using suitable illustrations. [5] b) Describe the importance of ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery. [5]
  8. Briefly describe the commonly used drugs with their doses and techniques of local anaesthesia. [10]
  9. a) Damage control resuscitation. [5] b) Classify hemorrhage according to time and source. [5]
  10. a) Describe the principles of limb salvage in extremity trauma. [5] b) Discuss crush syndrome and its management. [5]

Paper 2

  1. Discuss the pathology, clinical features and management of Phyllodes tumor of the breast. [3+3+4]
  2. Classify the adrenal tumors and discuss the management of pheochromocytoma. [3+7]
  3. Enumerate the causes of hydrocephalus. Briefly discuss the management of cervical meningocele with hydrocephalus. [3+7]
  4. What do you understand by 'Loss of domain in reference to incisional hernia? Describe the different surgical options including recent advances. [3+7]
  5. Describe indications, steps and complications of modified radical neck dissection. [3+4+3]
  6. Describe evolving trends to localization of lump in breast surgery. Enumerate the indications of MRI for breast cancer screening as recommended by the American Cancer Society. [6+4]
  7. a) Pathophysiology and management of black eye. [5] b) Fourniers gangrene. [5]
  8. Discuss breast conserving surgery, indications, complications and current status of oncoplastic breast surgery in the management of early breast cancer. [4+2+2+2]
  9. a) Functional neurosurgery. [5] b) Pectus excavatum. [5]
  10. Discuss the etiology, clinical features and management of carpel tunnel syndrome. [2+3+5]

Paper 3

  1. Outline the management protocol of a case of blunt trauma abdomen following vehicle accident with special reference to eFAST and primary survey. [10]
  2. Briefly describe the life cycle of the hydatid cyst. Discuss the management of a large hydatid cyst of segment 8 of liver. [4+6]
  3. Describe the different types of bariatric surgeries and their indications. Discuss the nutritional issues encountered in the short and long term. [5+5]
  4. a) Role of laparoscopic CBD exploration in todayssera. [5] b) Minimally invasive options in fistula-in-ano management. [5]
  5. Describe various minimally invasive options for management of rectal cancer. [10]
  6. a) Scoring systems for GERD. [5] b) Complications of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. [5]
  7. Describe the causes of post cholecystectomy bilioma. Discuss the diagnosis and management of this condition. [4+6]
  8. Discuss evaluation and management of a 56-year-old lady with anemia and right lower quadrant mass. [10]
  9. A 50-year-old male, known case of NIDDM and with BMI of 31 kg/m2, complains of calf pain after walking for approximately 1 km. Discuss the evaluation and management of this patient. [10]
  10. a) Therapeutic embolization. [5] b) Newer technique in varicose vein surgery. [5]

Paper 4

  1. What are the various ways to resurface a wound? Discuss how will you raise split thickness skin graft. What are the causes of failure of such a graft? [3+4+3]
  2. Enlist common causes of male infertility. Describe evaluation and management of such a case. [3+7]
  3. a) STOPBANG score. [5] b) Third space endoscopy. [5]
  4. a) Uses of ICG in surgical patient. [5] b) Role of imaging in pre-operative planning and post-operative assessment in minimal access AWR. [5]
  5. a) Surgery for divarication of recti: Guidelines and recommendations. [5] b) Ilio-inguinal block dissection. [5]
  6. a) Advances in robotic surgical systems. [5] b) How to create pneumoperitoneum in scarred abdomen? [5]
  7. a) Use of three-dimensional printing in surgery. [5] b) Role of artificial inteligence in preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative patient. [5]
  8. a) Barbed suture. [5] b) Laparoscopic ultrasound. [5]
  9. a) Discuss indications and contraindications of heart transplantation. [5] b) Describe current status of Islet (pancreatic) transplantation in management of diabetes mellitus. [5]
  10. a) Describe various bio-engineered skin substitutes and their current status in patient care. [5] b) Recent advances in prostatic surgery. [5]

DNB General Surgery June 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Discuss in brief complications of blood transfusion. Describe special precautions in event of massive blood transfusion. [5+5=10]
  2. a) What is essential surgery as described by WHO? [4] b) How will you improve access to safe and affordable surgery in a remote district of India? [6]
  3. a) How will you differentiate keloid from hypertrophic scar? [5] b) Synergistic gangrene. [5]
  4. a) Trauma severity scores. [5] b) Extended FAST in trauma management. [5]
  5. a) Level of evidence in research. [5] b) Randomization. [5]
  6. a) Describe various strategies to reduce surgical site infections. [5] b) Describe in detail about the surgical hand washing technique. [5]
  7. a) Describe Parenteral nutrition with respect to its indications, precautions and complications. [6] b) Create a fluid and nutrition plan for an unconscious 50 kg man on parenteral nutrition. [4]
  8. a) Triage. [5] b) Disaster management plan at institution level. [5]
  9. a) Surgical Audit. [5] b) How will you evaluate a post operative patient following cholecystectomy, with fever on PO Day 4? [5]
  10. a) WHO surgical check list. [5] b) Radiation safety for surgeons. [5]

Paper 2

  1. Write a note on lower limb amputations mentioning its types, indications and key operative considerations. [2+3+5]
  2. a) Chronic osteomyelitis. [5] b) Aberration in normal development and involution of breast (ANDI). [5]
  3. a) Describe commonly used flaps in cases of oral malignancy. [5] b) Classification of malignant melanoma. [5]
  4. a) Bell's palsy. [5] b) Warthins tumor. [5]
  5. Describe the various types of neck dissections. Outline a workup and management plan of a 45-year-old man with solitary neck node with unknown primary. [5+5]
  6. a) Targeted chemotherapy. [5] b) Familial breast cancer. [5]
  7. a) TNM staging of carcinoma breast. [5] b) Sentinel lymph node biopsy. [5]
  8. a) Hyperparathyroidism. [5] b) MEN syndrome. [5]
  9. Describe the types of operations performed on the thyroid gland. Discuss complications after thyroidectomy. [5+5]
  10. Classify adrenal tumors. Outline the management of incidentally detected tumor in adrenal gland. [4+6]

Paper 3

  1. a) Describe the venous anatomy of the lower limb with diagram. [5] b) Describe pathophysiology and clinical features of varicose veins. [5]
  2. a) Write a short note on pathophysiology and management of diabetic foot. [2+3] b) Compartment syndrome. [5]
  3. a) Indications and complications of chest tube insertion. [5] b) Eventration of diaphragm. [5]
  4. a) Describe the different types of operations in gastric cancer. [5] b) Enumerate and briefly describe 5 complications specific to gastrectomy. [5]
  5. a) Diagnostic laparoscopy in emergency surgery. [5] b) Management of appendicular lump. [5]
  6. a) Classify perianal fistula. [2] b) What is Goodsall's rule in reference to perianal fistula? [3] c) Enumerate surgical options for management of perianal fistula. [5]
  7. a) Describe COLOR 3 trial for colorectal cancer. [5] b) Discuss in brief about total mesorectal excision. [5]
  8. a) Enumerate causes of portal hypertension. [4] b) Describe the management options for a patient with esophageal varices. [6]
  9. a) Describe the factors that are responsible for post-operative wound dehiscence following midline laparotomy. [5] b) Discuss the options for management of patient with wound dehiscence. [5]
  10. a) Discuss the clinical presentations in a patient with femoral hernia. [4] b) Describe common operations performed for its treatment. [6]

Paper 4

  1. Classify testicular tumors. Describe management of patient diagnosed with non-seminomatous germ cell tumor. [4+6]
  2. a) TNM staging of carcinoma penis. [5] b) Management of urethral stricture. [5]
  3. a) ESWL for renal calculus. [5] b) Management of 22-year-old girl with PUJ obstruction. [5]
  4. Enumerate indications of TUR-BT for carcinoma of urinary bladder. Describe strategies for urinary conduits after radical cystectomy. [4+6]
  5. Discuss the various treatment options for management of benign prostate hyperplasia. Discuss the complications after surgical prostatectomy. [5+5]
  6. Enumerate causes of hematuria. Discuss the investigations and management of a 40-year-old man with gross hematuria. [5+5]
  7. Classify types of hypospadias. Discuss various management options for hypospadias. [4+6]
  8. a) Role of RPLND in testicular tumors. [5] b) Testicular torsion. [5]
  9. a) Discuss the common uses of LASER in surgery. [5] b) Negative pressure wound therapy for wound management. [5]
  10. a) Cystic hygroma [5] b) Endoluminal USG [5]

High-Yield DNB General Surgery Topics

A selection of 30 of the 70 important topics curated in the app from repeated DNB General Surgery questions.

Principles of surgery — foundation topics

  • Wound healing: phases, factors affecting, primary/secondary/tertiary intention, NPWT
  • Shock and SIRS/sepsis: classification, damage control resuscitation, Surviving Sepsis
  • Fluid and electrolyte management: deficits, GI fistula losses, hyperkalaemia, metabolic acidosis

Minimal access and technology

  • Laparoscopy: pneumoperitoneum effects, port placement, critical view of safety, complications
  • Energy devices: electrosurgery, harmonic scalpel, LigaSure; staplers and suture materials
  • Robotics, NOTES, TAMIS/TEM, HIPEC, ICG fluorescence, ERCP/EUS applications

Breast and endocrine surgery

  • Breast lump evaluation: triple assessment, BI-RADS, FNAC/core biopsy
  • Carcinoma breast: TNM, management (BCS vs mastectomy), SLNB, neoadjuvant therapy, oncoplastic surgery
  • Thyroid nodule: TIRADS, FNAC Bethesda, management algorithm

Head and neck surgery

  • Neck dissection: levels I–V, RND vs MRND vs SND, chyle leak
  • Oral cavity cancer: tongue/cheek carcinoma, N0 neck management, reconstruction flaps
  • Parotid tumours: superficial parotidectomy, facial nerve preservation, Frey's syndrome

Oesophagus and stomach

  • GERD and hiatus hernia: manometry, pH study, fundoplication
  • Achalasia cardia and corrosive stricture management
  • Carcinoma oesophagus and stomach: staging, gastrectomy types, D2 dissection, early gastric cancer

Hepatobiliary and pancreas

  • Gallstones and cholecystectomy: critical view of safety, bile duct injury (Strasberg classification)
  • Choledocholithiasis, Mirizzi syndrome, post-cholecystectomy syndrome
  • Choledochal cyst classification and management

Colorectal and anal

  • Colorectal cancer: staging, TME, neoadjuvant therapy, FAP/HNPCC screening
  • Carcinoma rectum: APR vs LAR, TaTME; anal canal cancer
  • IBD surgical management: UC colectomy, pouch complications, Crohn's stricture/fistula

Hernia and abdominal wall

  • Inguinal hernia: Lichtenstein, TEP/TAPP, sliding hernia, obstructed/strangulated hernia
  • Femoral and incisional hernia: component separation, loss of domain, eTEP
  • Umbilical and obturator hernia

Vascular surgery

  • Varicose veins: CEAP, saphenofemoral junction, EVLT/RFA
  • DVT: prophylaxis, acute management; chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcer
  • Peripheral arterial disease: claudication, critical limb ischaemia, acute embolism

Urology

  • Haematuria workup; BPH: medical (alpha-blockers, 5-ARI) and surgical (TURP, HoLEP)
  • Carcinoma prostate: PSA, Gleason, staging, RP vs RT vs ADT
  • Renal stones: ESWL, URSL, PCNL; renal cell carcinoma; renal trauma (grading)

Older DNB General Surgery Question Papers

The remaining 23 papers are available in the Prep DNB app, organized paper-wise with repeat-question tracking.

Get all 25 papers in the app

Previous Year Questions for Other DNB Subjects