Critical care: cardiac tamponade: 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: cardiac tamponade

Sample item

Which finding is part of Beck's triad in cardiac tamponade?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hypotension, raised jugular venous pressure and muffled heart sounds

Beck's triad consists of hypotension, distended neck veins and muffled heart sounds. Pulsus paradoxus is also typical, and emergency pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage is the treatment. Cushing's triad of hypertension and bradycardia relates to raised intracranial pressure.

Option by option

  • A. Hypotension, tachycardia and hyperresonance

    Hyperresonance suggests tension pneumothorax.

  • B. Hypotension, raised jugular venous pressure and muffled heart sounds (correct)

    Correct. These three signs make up Beck's triad.

  • C. Hypertension, bradycardia and irregular respirations

    This is Cushing's triad.

  • D. Fever, rash and arthritis

    These findings are unrelated to tamponade.

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 B, Hypotension, raised jugular venous pressure and muffled heart sounds. Beck's triad consists of hypotension, distended neck veins and muffled heart sounds.

Why is "Hypotension, tachycardia and hyperresonance" not the answer?

Hyperresonance suggests tension pneumothorax.

Why is "Hypertension, bradycardia and irregular respirations" not the answer?

This is Cushing's triad.

Why is "Fever, rash and arthritis" not the answer?

These findings are unrelated to tamponade.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: cardiac tamponade in Anaesthesia. Pulsus paradoxus is also typical, and emergency pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage is the treatment. Cushing's triad of hypertension and bradycardia relates to raised intracranial pressure.

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: cardiac tamponade?

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.