Medical emergencies: syncope: practice question

A Dentistry 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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Dentistry · Medical emergencies: syncope

Sample item

During a dental injection, an anxious patient becomes pale, sweaty, nauseated, and briefly loses consciousness. What is the first positioning step for likely vasovagal syncope?

ASit the patient upright immediatelyBLay the patient supine with legs elevatedCPlace the patient proneDSend the patient to walk outside

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Lay the patient supine with legs elevated

Vasovagal syncope causes transient cerebral hypoperfusion. Supine positioning with leg elevation promotes venous return while airway, breathing, circulation, and recovery are monitored.

Option by option

A. Sit the patient upright immediately
Upright posture may worsen cerebral hypoperfusion.
B. Lay the patient supine with legs elevated (correct)
Correct. This positioning improves cerebral perfusion in a fainting patient.
C. Place the patient prone
Prone positioning does not facilitate assessment or venous return.
D. Send the patient to walk outside
Walking is unsafe immediately after a loss of consciousness.

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 Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, Lay the patient supine with legs elevated. Vasovagal syncope causes transient cerebral hypoperfusion.

Why is "Sit the patient upright immediately" not the answer?

Upright posture may worsen cerebral hypoperfusion.

Why is "Place the patient prone" not the answer?

Prone positioning does not facilitate assessment or venous return.

Why is "Send the patient to walk outside" not the answer?

Walking is unsafe immediately after a loss of consciousness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Medical emergencies: syncope in Dentistry. Supine positioning with leg elevation promotes venous return while airway, breathing, circulation, and recovery are monitored.

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 Medical emergencies: syncope?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.