Perioperative care: intraoperative anaphylaxis: practice question

A General Surgery 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 Surgery · Perioperative care: intraoperative anaphylaxis

Sample item

Within minutes of induction, a patient develops bronchospasm, hypotension, tachycardia and a widespread rash. After stopping the suspected trigger and calling for help, which is the first-line drug?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Adrenaline

Perioperative anaphylaxis is most often triggered by neuromuscular blocking agents, latex or antibiotics. Adrenaline is the first-line drug since it reverses vasodilatation and bronchospasm. Steroids and antihistamines are adjuncts and do not treat life-threatening features rapidly.

Option by option

  • A. Salbutamol nebuliser

    Salbutamol may help bronchospasm but does not treat the circulatory collapse.

  • B. Adrenaline (correct)

    Correct. Adrenaline is life-saving first-line treatment of anaphylaxis.

  • C. Chlorpheniramine

    Chlorpheniramine relieves itching and urticaria but does not reverse shock or bronchospasm.

  • D. Hydrocortisone

    Hydrocortisone acts slowly and is an adjunct, not first-line treatment.

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 Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Adrenaline. Perioperative anaphylaxis is most often triggered by neuromuscular blocking agents, latex or antibiotics.

Why is "Salbutamol nebuliser" not the answer?

Salbutamol may help bronchospasm but does not treat the circulatory collapse.

Why is "Chlorpheniramine" not the answer?

Chlorpheniramine relieves itching and urticaria but does not reverse shock or bronchospasm.

Why is "Hydrocortisone" not the answer?

Hydrocortisone acts slowly and is an adjunct, not first-line treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative care: intraoperative anaphylaxis in General Surgery. Adrenaline is the first-line drug since it reverses vasodilatation and bronchospasm. Steroids and antihistamines are adjuncts and do not treat life-threatening features rapidly.

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 Perioperative care: intraoperative anaphylaxis?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.