Airway management: aspiration pneumonitis treatment: 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: aspiration pneumonitis treatment

Sample item

A witnessed aspiration of gastric contents occurs at induction and the saturation falls to 88 percent. After suction of the airway, what is the best ongoing management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Oxygen and ventilatory support with PEEP as needed, without routine antibiotics

Management of aspiration pneumonitis is supportive: suction, oxygen, PEEP or ventilation as required. Routine prophylactic antibiotics and steroids have not been shown to help, and antibiotics are reserved for evidence of infection. Saline lavage spreads the acid and is not recommended.

Option by option

  • A. Bronchial lavage with saline

    Lavage can spread the acidic material and worsen injury.

  • B. Prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics for all

    Routine antibiotics are not recommended because the early injury is chemical, not infective.

  • C. Oxygen and ventilatory support with PEEP as needed, without routine antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Supportive respiratory care is the mainstay, and antibiotics are given only if infection develops.

  • D. High-dose corticosteroids

    Steroids have not been shown to improve outcome.

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.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Oxygen and ventilatory support with PEEP as needed, without routine antibiotics. Management of aspiration pneumonitis is supportive: suction, oxygen, PEEP or ventilation as required.

Why is "Bronchial lavage with saline" not the answer?

Lavage can spread the acidic material and worsen injury.

Why is "Prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics for all" not the answer?

Routine antibiotics are not recommended because the early injury is chemical, not infective.

Why is "High-dose corticosteroids" not the answer?

Steroids have not been shown to improve outcome.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: aspiration pneumonitis treatment in Anaesthesia. Routine prophylactic antibiotics and steroids have not been shown to help, and antibiotics are reserved for evidence of infection. Saline lavage spreads the acid and is not recommended.

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: aspiration pneumonitis treatment?

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.