ACLS: adenosine administration: 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 · ACLS: adenosine administration

Sample item

Which statement about adenosine for supraventricular tachycardia is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It is given as a rapid bolus with a saline flush into a large proximal vein and has a half-life of seconds

Adenosine has a half-life under 10 seconds, so it is given as a rapid bolus of 6 mg, then 12 mg, followed by a flush. It transiently causes flushing, chest tightness and brief asystole, and it can precipitate bronchospasm in asthma. Dipyridamole and carbamazepine potentiate it.

Option by option

  • A. It is given slowly over 10 minutes

    Slow injection would be metabolised before reaching the heart.

  • B. It is safe in all asthmatics

    Asthma is a relative contraindication.

  • C. It has a half-life of 6 hours

    Its half-life is seconds.

  • D. It is given as a rapid bolus with a saline flush into a large proximal vein and has a half-life of seconds (correct)

    Correct. Rapid injection overcomes its very short half-life.

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 D, It is given as a rapid bolus with a saline flush into a large proximal vein and has a half-life of seconds. Adenosine has a half-life under 10 seconds, so it is given as a rapid bolus of 6 mg, then 12 mg, followed by a flush.

Why is "It is given slowly over 10 minutes" not the answer?

Slow injection would be metabolised before reaching the heart.

Why is "It is safe in all asthmatics" not the answer?

Asthma is a relative contraindication.

Why is "It has a half-life of 6 hours" not the answer?

Its half-life is seconds.

What concept does this question test?

It tests ACLS: adenosine administration in Anaesthesia. It transiently causes flushing, chest tightness and brief asystole, and it can precipitate bronchospasm in asthma. Dipyridamole and carbamazepine potentiate it.

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 ACLS: adenosine administration?

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.