Airway management: avoiding deep extubation: 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.

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Anaesthesia · Airway management: avoiding deep extubation

Sample item

Deep extubation, before airway reflexes return, is generally avoided in which patient?

AA healthy adult after hernia repair with an easy airwayBAn asthmatic after minor limb surgeryCA child after squint surgery with an easy airwayDA patient who had surgery for bowel obstruction

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. A patient who had surgery for bowel obstruction

Deep extubation leaves the airway unprotected while the patient is still anaesthetised, so it is unsafe in a full stomach, difficult airway or obstructive sleep apnoea. In asthmatics and after squint or hernia surgery it can reduce coughing and bronchospasm, if the airway was easy.

Option by option

A. A healthy adult after hernia repair with an easy airway
Avoiding straining after hernia repair is a reason to consider it.
B. An asthmatic after minor limb surgery
An asthmatic with an easy airway may benefit from deep extubation to avoid bronchospasm.
C. A child after squint surgery with an easy airway
After squint surgery, reducing coughing is a recognised benefit.
D. A patient who had surgery for bowel obstruction (correct)
Correct. Bowel obstruction means a full stomach and a high risk of aspiration if reflexes are absent.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is D, A patient who had surgery for bowel obstruction. Deep extubation leaves the airway unprotected while the patient is still anaesthetised, so it is unsafe in a full stomach, difficult airway or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Why is "A healthy adult after hernia repair with an easy airway" not the answer?

Avoiding straining after hernia repair is a reason to consider it.

Why is "An asthmatic after minor limb surgery" not the answer?

An asthmatic with an easy airway may benefit from deep extubation to avoid bronchospasm.

Why is "A child after squint surgery with an easy airway" not the answer?

After squint surgery, reducing coughing is a recognised benefit.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: avoiding deep extubation in Anaesthesia. In asthmatics and after squint or hernia surgery it can reduce coughing and bronchospasm, if the airway was easy.

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 Airway management: avoiding deep extubation?

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.