Basic resuscitation: preterm thermal care: 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 · Basic resuscitation: preterm thermal care

Sample item

A baby born at 28 weeks is placed under a radiant warmer for stabilisation. Which additional measure best reduces heat loss?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Placing the wet baby up to the neck in a polyethylene bag

Very preterm babies have a large surface area and thin skin, so they lose heat rapidly. Wrapping the undried baby in food-grade polyethylene up to the neck under a radiant warmer reduces evaporative loss better than towels alone. Hypothermia raises mortality and morbidity.

Option by option

  • A. A warm water bath immediately after delivery

    Bathing a preterm baby after birth causes heat loss and is not part of resuscitation.

  • B. Leaving the baby uncovered to allow observation of colour

    An uncovered baby loses heat quickly even under a warmer.

  • C. Placing the wet baby up to the neck in a polyethylene bag (correct)

    Correct. A plastic wrap or bag stops evaporative loss and keeps the baby warm during stabilisation.

  • D. Drying thoroughly and swaddling in several cotton towels

    Towels become wet and lose their insulating effect, and they hide the baby from view.

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 C, Placing the wet baby up to the neck in a polyethylene bag. Very preterm babies have a large surface area and thin skin, so they lose heat rapidly.

Why is "A warm water bath immediately after delivery" not the answer?

Bathing a preterm baby after birth causes heat loss and is not part of resuscitation.

Why is "Leaving the baby uncovered to allow observation of colour" not the answer?

An uncovered baby loses heat quickly even under a warmer.

Why is "Drying thoroughly and swaddling in several cotton towels" not the answer?

Towels become wet and lose their insulating effect, and they hide the baby from view.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Basic resuscitation: preterm thermal care in Anaesthesia. Wrapping the undried baby in food-grade polyethylene up to the neck under a radiant warmer reduces evaporative loss better than towels alone. Hypothermia raises mortality and morbidity.

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 Basic resuscitation: preterm thermal care?

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.