Chest imaging: intra-aortic balloon pump position: practice question

A Radiology 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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Radiology · Chest imaging: intra-aortic balloon pump position

Sample item

A chest radiograph in a patient with cardiogenic shock shows an intra-aortic balloon pump. Where should its radiopaque tip lie?

AIn the right atriumBIn the left ventricleCJust below the aortic knuckle, 1 to 2 cm distal to the left subclavian originDIn the abdominal aorta at the renal level

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Just below the aortic knuckle, 1 to 2 cm distal to the left subclavian origin

The tip should sit in the descending thoracic aorta, below the origin of the left subclavian artery and above the renal arteries, which is seen just below the aortic knuckle. A tip placed too high may occlude the subclavian artery, and too low may impair renal and visceral flow.

Option by option

A. In the right atrium
A right atrial tip would be a venous line position.
B. In the left ventricle
The left ventricle is not the target.
C. Just below the aortic knuckle, 1 to 2 cm distal to the left subclavian origin (correct)
Correct. The tip is placed just distal to the left subclavian artery.
D. In the abdominal aorta at the renal level
Renal-level tip would obstruct visceral flow.

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.

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Just below the aortic knuckle, 1 to 2 cm distal to the left subclavian origin. The tip should sit in the descending thoracic aorta, below the origin of the left subclavian artery and above the renal arteries, which is seen just below the aortic knuckle.

Why is "In the right atrium" not the answer?

A right atrial tip would be a venous line position.

Why is "In the left ventricle" not the answer?

The left ventricle is not the target.

Why is "In the abdominal aorta at the renal level" not the answer?

Renal-level tip would obstruct visceral flow.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chest imaging: intra-aortic balloon pump position in Radiology. A tip placed too high may occlude the subclavian artery, and too low may impair renal and visceral flow.

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 Chest imaging: intra-aortic balloon pump position?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology 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.