Respiratory medicine: ARDS: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Respiratory medicine: ARDS

Sample item

A patient with severe sepsis develops acute hypoxemia, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and poor lung compliance without evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. What syndrome is present?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARDS is noncardiogenic inflammatory lung injury causing increased alveolar-capillary permeability, severe hypoxemia, bilateral opacities, and stiff lungs. Treatment includes addressing the cause and lung-protective ventilation.

Option by option

  • A. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (correct)

    Correct. The noncardiogenic bilateral infiltrative hypoxemic syndrome is ARDS.

  • B. Pulmonary embolism only

    Pulmonary embolism can cause hypoxemia but not usually diffuse bilateral infiltrates and low compliance.

  • C. Pleural effusion

    Pleural effusion is fluid in the pleural space.

  • D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    COPD is chronic airflow limitation rather than acute diffuse alveolar injury.

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 General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARDS is noncardiogenic inflammatory lung injury causing increased alveolar-capillary permeability, severe hypoxemia, bilateral opacities, and stiff lungs.

Why is "Pulmonary embolism only" not the answer?

Pulmonary embolism can cause hypoxemia but not usually diffuse bilateral infiltrates and low compliance.

Why is "Pleural effusion" not the answer?

Pleural effusion is fluid in the pleural space.

Why is "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" not the answer?

COPD is chronic airflow limitation rather than acute diffuse alveolar injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: ARDS in General Medicine. Treatment includes addressing the cause and lung-protective ventilation.

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 Respiratory medicine: ARDS?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.