Paediatric ALS: bradycardia: 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 · Paediatric ALS: bradycardia

Sample item

A child has a heart rate of 50 per minute with poor perfusion despite oxygenation and ventilation. What is the next step?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start chest compressions

In children, bradycardia below 60 per minute with poor perfusion despite adequate oxygenation and ventilation is treated with CPR, followed by adrenaline. Hypoxia is the usual cause. Atropine is used for vagal bradycardia or primary AV block.

Option by option

  • A. Observe only

    Observation delays treatment.

  • B. Start chest compressions (correct)

    Correct. Compressions are started for severe bradycardia with poor perfusion.

  • C. Give amiodarone

    Amiodarone is for tachyarrhythmias.

  • D. Perform cardioversion

    Cardioversion is for tachyarrhythmias.

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, Start chest compressions. In children, bradycardia below 60 per minute with poor perfusion despite adequate oxygenation and ventilation is treated with CPR, followed by adrenaline.

Why is "Observe only" not the answer?

Observation delays treatment.

Why is "Give amiodarone" not the answer?

Amiodarone is for tachyarrhythmias.

Why is "Perform cardioversion" not the answer?

Cardioversion is for tachyarrhythmias.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric ALS: bradycardia in Anaesthesia. Hypoxia is the usual cause. Atropine is used for vagal bradycardia or primary AV block.

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 Paediatric ALS: bradycardia?

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.