Spinal anaesthesia: hypotension management: 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 · Spinal anaesthesia: hypotension management

Sample item

A patient has hypotension and a heart rate of 50 per minute after spinal anaesthesia. Which vasopressor is most appropriate?

AEphedrineBDobutamineCPhenylephrineDNoradrenaline infusion at high dose

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ephedrine

Ephedrine, with its indirect action on alpha and beta receptors, raises blood pressure and heart rate and suits hypotension with bradycardia. Phenylephrine gives reflex bradycardia and is preferred when the heart rate is high or in caesarean section.

Option by option

A. Ephedrine (correct)
Correct. Ephedrine raises both pressure and rate.
B. Dobutamine
Dobutamine is not the standard treatment.
C. Phenylephrine
Phenylephrine would further slow the heart.
D. Noradrenaline infusion at high dose
High-dose noradrenaline is excessive.

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 A, Ephedrine. Ephedrine, with its indirect action on alpha and beta receptors, raises blood pressure and heart rate and suits hypotension with bradycardia.

Why is "Dobutamine" not the answer?

Dobutamine is not the standard treatment.

Why is "Phenylephrine" not the answer?

Phenylephrine would further slow the heart.

Why is "Noradrenaline infusion at high dose" not the answer?

High-dose noradrenaline is excessive.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spinal anaesthesia: hypotension management in Anaesthesia. Phenylephrine gives reflex bradycardia and is preferred when the heart rate is high or in caesarean section.

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 Spinal anaesthesia: hypotension management?

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.