Critical care: delirium assessment: 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: delirium assessment

Sample item

Which tool is commonly used to diagnose delirium in a ventilated patient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU)

CAM-ICU assesses acute onset or fluctuating course, inattention, altered consciousness and disorganised thinking in patients who cannot speak. Non-pharmacological measures and minimising benzodiazepines are the mainstay of prevention. Dexmedetomidine is preferred over benzodiazepines for sedation.

Option by option

  • A. Glasgow Outcome Scale

    The Glasgow Outcome Scale measures recovery after brain injury.

  • B. Aldrete score

    The Aldrete score assesses recovery from anaesthesia.

  • C. Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) (correct)

    Correct. CAM-ICU is validated in ventilated patients.

  • D. Apgar score

    The Apgar score assesses newborns.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). CAM-ICU assesses acute onset or fluctuating course, inattention, altered consciousness and disorganised thinking in patients who cannot speak.

Why is "Glasgow Outcome Scale" not the answer?

The Glasgow Outcome Scale measures recovery after brain injury.

Why is "Aldrete score" not the answer?

The Aldrete score assesses recovery from anaesthesia.

Why is "Apgar score" not the answer?

The Apgar score assesses newborns.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: delirium assessment in Anaesthesia. Non-pharmacological measures and minimising benzodiazepines are the mainstay of prevention. Dexmedetomidine is preferred over benzodiazepines for sedation.

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 Critical care: delirium assessment?

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.