Equipment: hypoxic guard: 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 · Equipment: hypoxic guard

Sample item

What is the role of the hypoxic guard on an anaesthesia machine?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. To prevent delivery of a hypoxic mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide

Mechanical or electronic linkage between the oxygen and nitrous oxide flow controls keeps the oxygen concentration at a minimum of about 25 percent. It does not protect against a wrong gas in the oxygen pipeline, so an oxygen analyser is still needed. It is one of the safety features of modern machines.

Option by option

  • A. To scavenge waste gas

    Scavenging systems remove waste gas.

  • B. To increase nitrous oxide flow

    It limits nitrous oxide when oxygen is low.

  • C. To prevent delivery of a hypoxic mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (correct)

    Correct. It keeps the fresh gas oxygen concentration above a safe minimum.

  • D. To measure end-tidal oxygen

    An oxygen analyser measures oxygen concentration.

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, To prevent delivery of a hypoxic mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Mechanical or electronic linkage between the oxygen and nitrous oxide flow controls keeps the oxygen concentration at a minimum of about 25 percent.

Why is "To scavenge waste gas" not the answer?

Scavenging systems remove waste gas.

Why is "To increase nitrous oxide flow" not the answer?

It limits nitrous oxide when oxygen is low.

Why is "To measure end-tidal oxygen" not the answer?

An oxygen analyser measures oxygen concentration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Equipment: hypoxic guard in Anaesthesia. It does not protect against a wrong gas in the oxygen pipeline, so an oxygen analyser is still needed. It is one of the safety features of modern machines.

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 Equipment: hypoxic guard?

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.