Inhalational agents: xenon: 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 · Inhalational agents: xenon

Sample item

Which statement about xenon is correct?

AIt is a trigger for malignant hyperthermiaBIt is metabolised by the liverCIt is cheap and widely availableDIt is an inert gas with very low blood-gas solubility and little cardiovascular depression

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It is an inert gas with very low blood-gas solubility and little cardiovascular depression

Xenon has a blood-gas coefficient of 0.115, an MAC of about 63% and minimal haemodynamic effect, but it is very expensive and not metabolised. It does not trigger malignant hyperthermia.

Option by option

A. It is a trigger for malignant hyperthermia
Xenon is not an MH trigger.
B. It is metabolised by the liver
Xenon is not metabolised.
C. It is cheap and widely available
It is very costly.
D. It is an inert gas with very low blood-gas solubility and little cardiovascular depression (correct)
Correct. It is inert with fast onset and stability.

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.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is D, It is an inert gas with very low blood-gas solubility and little cardiovascular depression. Xenon has a blood-gas coefficient of 0.

Why is "It is a trigger for malignant hyperthermia" not the answer?

Xenon is not an MH trigger.

Why is "It is metabolised by the liver" not the answer?

Xenon is not metabolised.

Why is "It is cheap and widely available" not the answer?

It is very costly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Inhalational agents: xenon in Anaesthesia. 115, an MAC of about 63% and minimal haemodynamic effect, but it is very expensive and not metabolised. It does not trigger malignant hyperthermia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Inhalational agents: xenon?

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.