Paediatric emergencies: bradycardia management: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Paediatric emergencies: bradycardia management

Sample item

A 6-month-old with bronchiolitis is limp with a heart rate of 50 per minute, poor perfusion and SpO2 of 70 percent. What is the first step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Open the airway, give oxygen and assist ventilation

Paediatric bradycardia with poor perfusion is usually caused by hypoxia, so airway support, oxygenation and ventilation come first. If heart rate stays below 60 with poor perfusion, CPR and epinephrine follow.

Option by option

  • A. Give calcium

    Calcium is not indicated.

  • B. Give adenosine

    Adenosine treats supraventricular tachycardia.

  • C. Open the airway, give oxygen and assist ventilation (correct)

    Correct. Hypoxia is the commonest cause and is corrected first.

  • D. Give atropine immediately

    Atropine is used after oxygenation if vagal causes are suspected.

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.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is C, Open the airway, give oxygen and assist ventilation. Paediatric bradycardia with poor perfusion is usually caused by hypoxia, so airway support, oxygenation and ventilation come first.

Why is "Give calcium" not the answer?

Calcium is not indicated.

Why is "Give adenosine" not the answer?

Adenosine treats supraventricular tachycardia.

Why is "Give atropine immediately" not the answer?

Atropine is used after oxygenation if vagal causes are suspected.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric emergencies: bradycardia management in Pediatrics. If heart rate stays below 60 with poor perfusion, CPR and epinephrine follow.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Paediatric emergencies: bradycardia management?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.