Critical care: haemodynamic profiles of shock: 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 · Critical care: haemodynamic profiles of shock

Sample item

Which haemodynamic profile is typical of established cardiogenic shock?

ALow cardiac output, low wedge pressure and high resistanceBLow cardiac output, high systemic vascular resistance and high wedge pressureCHigh cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistanceDNormal cardiac output and low wedge pressure

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Low cardiac output, high systemic vascular resistance and high wedge pressure

In cardiogenic shock, pump failure lowers cardiac output, and compensatory vasoconstriction raises systemic resistance while pressures behind the failing ventricle rise. Distributive shock such as sepsis shows high output and low resistance, and hypovolaemic shock shows low output, low filling pressures and high resistance. Treatment targets the pump.

Option by option

A. Low cardiac output, low wedge pressure and high resistance
This pattern describes hypovolaemic shock.
B. Low cardiac output, high systemic vascular resistance and high wedge pressure (correct)
Correct. This is the classic cardiogenic pattern.
C. High cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance
This pattern describes early distributive shock.
D. Normal cardiac output and low wedge pressure
This does not describe shock with end-organ hypoperfusion.

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.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Low cardiac output, high systemic vascular resistance and high wedge pressure. In cardiogenic shock, pump failure lowers cardiac output, and compensatory vasoconstriction raises systemic resistance while pressures behind the failing ventricle rise.

Why is "Low cardiac output, low wedge pressure and high resistance" not the answer?

This pattern describes hypovolaemic shock.

Why is "High cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance" not the answer?

This pattern describes early distributive shock.

Why is "Normal cardiac output and low wedge pressure" not the answer?

This does not describe shock with end-organ hypoperfusion.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: haemodynamic profiles of shock in Anaesthesia. Distributive shock such as sepsis shows high output and low resistance, and hypovolaemic shock shows low output, low filling pressures and high resistance. Treatment targets the pump.

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 Critical care: haemodynamic profiles of shock?

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.