Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants: 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 · Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants

Sample item

A former preterm infant needs inguinal hernia repair. Which technique can reduce the incidence of early postoperative apnoea compared with general anaesthesia?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Spinal anaesthesia without sedation

Former preterm infants are at risk of apnoea after general anaesthesia because of immature respiratory control. Regional anaesthesia without sedation lowers early apnoea, but monitoring is still required for a period after the procedure.

Option by option

  • A. Spinal anaesthesia without sedation (correct)

    Correct. Avoiding general anaesthetic drugs lowers early postoperative apnoea.

  • B. General anaesthesia with a volatile agent and opioid

    Volatile agents and opioids depress respiratory drive.

  • C. General anaesthesia with a high concentration of sevoflurane

    A higher volatile concentration increases respiratory depression.

  • D. Sedation with midazolam alone

    Sedatives such as midazolam also depress ventilation and can cause apnoea.

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 A, Spinal anaesthesia without sedation. Former preterm infants are at risk of apnoea after general anaesthesia because of immature respiratory control.

Why is "General anaesthesia with a volatile agent and opioid" not the answer?

Volatile agents and opioids depress respiratory drive.

Why is "General anaesthesia with a high concentration of sevoflurane" not the answer?

A higher volatile concentration increases respiratory depression.

Why is "Sedation with midazolam alone" not the answer?

Sedatives such as midazolam also depress ventilation and can cause apnoea.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants in Anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia without sedation lowers early apnoea, but monitoring is still required for a period after the procedure.

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 Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants?

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.