Opioids: chest wall rigidity: 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 · Opioids: chest wall rigidity

Sample item

Rapid intravenous injection of a large dose of fentanyl causes difficulty ventilating a patient because of rigid chest wall. What is the treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Neuromuscular blocker or naloxone

Wooden chest syndrome is due to central opioid action on muscle tone and is treated with a muscle relaxant or naloxone. It can be minimised by slow injection.

Option by option

  • A. Atropine

    Atropine will not relieve muscle rigidity.

  • B. Hydrocortisone

    Steroids do not help acutely.

  • C. Salbutamol

    The problem is not bronchospasm.

  • D. Neuromuscular blocker or naloxone (correct)

    Correct. A relaxant or naloxone relieves it.

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 D, Neuromuscular blocker or naloxone. Wooden chest syndrome is due to central opioid action on muscle tone and is treated with a muscle relaxant or naloxone.

Why is "Atropine" not the answer?

Atropine will not relieve muscle rigidity.

Why is "Hydrocortisone" not the answer?

Steroids do not help acutely.

Why is "Salbutamol" not the answer?

The problem is not bronchospasm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Opioids: chest wall rigidity in Anaesthesia. It can be minimised by slow injection.

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 Opioids: chest wall rigidity?

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.