Which of the following is a contraindication to elective surgery?

• A. Active infection
• B. Well-controlled diabetes
• C. Hypertension
• D. Obesity

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that an active infection makes elective surgery inappropriate until the infection is treated. Undergoing surgery and anesthesia while an infection is ongoing increases the risk that the infection will spread, wound healing will be impaired, and complications like sepsis or postoperative wound infections will rise. Treating the infection first and delaying nonurgent procedures helps reduce these dangers and improves outcomes.

Other conditions listed raise perioperative risk but are not absolute contraindications. Well‑controlled diabetes, for example, still needs careful glucose management to lower infection risk and ensure healing, but it is not a reason to automatically cancel elective surgery. Hypertension can be managed around the time of surgery if it’s controlled. Obesity adds surgical and anesthesia challenges and can raise complication risk, but it does not by itself forbid elective procedures.