Oxygen therapy: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Oxygen therapy

Sample item

A patient with an acute exacerbation of COPD needs controlled oxygen therapy to avoid worsening hypercapnia. Which device is the most suitable?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Venturi mask

A Venturi mask entrains a fixed amount of air through a jet, delivering a precise and constant FiO2 whatever the patient's breathing pattern. This allows careful titration in patients at risk of carbon dioxide retention.

Option by option

  • A. Non-rebreathing mask with reservoir

    A non-rebreathing mask with reservoir delivers a high, variable FiO2, which risks hypercapnia.

  • B. Bag-valve-mask with reservoir

    A bag-valve-mask with reservoir is for assisted ventilation and delivers near-100% oxygen.

  • C. Venturi mask (correct)

    Correct. It delivers a fixed, known FiO2 that can be titrated.

  • D. Simple face mask

    A simple face mask delivers a variable FiO2 that depends on flow and breathing pattern.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Venturi mask. A Venturi mask entrains a fixed amount of air through a jet, delivering a precise and constant FiO2 whatever the patient's breathing pattern.

Why is "Non-rebreathing mask with reservoir" not the answer?

A non-rebreathing mask with reservoir delivers a high, variable FiO2, which risks hypercapnia.

Why is "Bag-valve-mask with reservoir" not the answer?

A bag-valve-mask with reservoir is for assisted ventilation and delivers near-100% oxygen.

Why is "Simple face mask" not the answer?

A simple face mask delivers a variable FiO2 that depends on flow and breathing pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oxygen therapy in Anaesthesia. This allows careful titration in patients at risk of carbon dioxide retention.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oxygen therapy?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.