Postoperative care: residual neuromuscular block: 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.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Postoperative care: residual neuromuscular block

Sample item

In recovery, a patient has shallow breathing, weak head lift, difficulty swallowing, and oxygen desaturation after receiving a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant. What should be suspected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Residual neuromuscular blockade

Residual neuromuscular blockade can impair upper-airway tone, swallowing, cough, and ventilatory muscle strength after extubation. Objective neuromuscular assessment and appropriate support or reversal are important before discharge from monitored care.

Option by option

  • A. Adequate recovery from anesthesia

    These signs indicate inadequate, not adequate, physiologic recovery.

  • B. Residual neuromuscular blockade (correct)

    Correct. Weakness affecting ventilation and airway protection is typical of residual paralysis.

  • C. Emergence delirium alone

    Delirium does not explain objective bulbar and respiratory muscle weakness.

  • D. Local anesthetic allergy

    Local anesthetic allergy usually presents with allergic features rather than isolated weakness.

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.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Residual neuromuscular blockade. Residual neuromuscular blockade can impair upper-airway tone, swallowing, cough, and ventilatory muscle strength after extubation.

Why is "Adequate recovery from anesthesia" not the answer?

These signs indicate inadequate, not adequate, physiologic recovery.

Why is "Emergence delirium alone" not the answer?

Delirium does not explain objective bulbar and respiratory muscle weakness.

Why is "Local anesthetic allergy" not the answer?

Local anesthetic allergy usually presents with allergic features rather than isolated weakness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Postoperative care: residual neuromuscular block in Anaesthesia. Objective neuromuscular assessment and appropriate support or reversal are important before discharge from monitored care.

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 Postoperative care: residual neuromuscular block?

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.