Emergency and critical care: findings compatible with brain death: 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 · Emergency and critical care: findings compatible with brain death

Sample item

During formal brain-death testing in a deeply comatose ventilated patient, which finding does not exclude the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Spinal reflex movement of the limbs

Brain death requires coma with absent brainstem reflexes and apnoea. Spinal cord reflexes can persist because they do not need the brain, and sometimes cause limb or trunk movements.

Option by option

  • A. Pupillary response to light

    A reactive pupil is a brainstem reflex and excludes brain death.

  • B. Corneal reflex

    An intact corneal reflex indicates brainstem function.

  • C. Spinal reflex movement of the limbs (correct)

    Correct. Spinal reflexes are mediated below the brainstem and may persist.

  • D. Spontaneous breathing during apnoea test

    Spontaneous breathing shows a working respiratory centre and excludes brain death.

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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Spinal reflex movement of the limbs. Brain death requires coma with absent brainstem reflexes and apnoea.

Why is "Pupillary response to light" not the answer?

A reactive pupil is a brainstem reflex and excludes brain death.

Why is "Corneal reflex" not the answer?

An intact corneal reflex indicates brainstem function.

Why is "Spontaneous breathing during apnoea test" not the answer?

Spontaneous breathing shows a working respiratory centre and excludes brain death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency and critical care: findings compatible with brain death in General Medicine. Spinal cord reflexes can persist because they do not need the brain, and sometimes cause limb or trunk movements.

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 Emergency and critical care: findings compatible with brain death?

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.