Preoperative assessment: functional capacity: 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 · Preoperative assessment: functional capacity

Sample item

A patient cannot climb two flights of stairs without stopping. How is this functional capacity classified?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Poor, below 4 METs, so higher perioperative cardiac risk

Inability to climb two flights of stairs or walk uphill indicates less than 4 METs, which is poor functional capacity and raises the chance of perioperative cardiac events. This prompts further testing only if it would change management.

Option by option

  • A. Cannot be used for risk assessment

    Functional capacity is a key step in the cardiac risk algorithm.

  • B. Poor, below 4 METs, so higher perioperative cardiac risk (correct)

    Correct. Under 4 METs is poor capacity.

  • C. Excellent, above 10 METs

    More than 10 METs means very strenuous activity such as swimming.

  • D. Good, above 7 METs

    More than 7 METs would allow climbing stairs briskly.

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 B, Poor, below 4 METs, so higher perioperative cardiac risk. Inability to climb two flights of stairs or walk uphill indicates less than 4 METs, which is poor functional capacity and raises the chance of perioperative cardiac events.

Why is "Cannot be used for risk assessment" not the answer?

Functional capacity is a key step in the cardiac risk algorithm.

Why is "Excellent, above 10 METs" not the answer?

More than 10 METs means very strenuous activity such as swimming.

Why is "Good, above 7 METs" not the answer?

More than 7 METs would allow climbing stairs briskly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Preoperative assessment: functional capacity in Anaesthesia. This prompts further testing only if it would change management.

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 Preoperative assessment: functional capacity?

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.