Critical care: prone positioning: 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 · Critical care: prone positioning

Sample item

In which patients does prone positioning reduce mortality?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Severe ARDS with PaO2/FiO2 below 150, for at least 12 to 16 hours daily

Prone positioning recruits dorsal lung zones, improves V/Q matching and gives more uniform ventilation, which reduced mortality in the PROSEVA trial. Contraindications include unstable spine and open abdomen.

Option by option

  • A. Severe ARDS with PaO2/FiO2 below 150, for at least 12 to 16 hours daily (correct)

    Correct. Severe ARDS benefits.

  • B. Patients with raised intra-abdominal hypertension only

    Intra-abdominal hypertension is a relative contraindication.

  • C. Patients with unstable spinal fractures

    Unstable spinal fractures are a contraindication.

  • D. Mild ARDS with PaO2/FiO2 of 280

    Mild ARDS is not an indication.

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 A, Severe ARDS with PaO2/FiO2 below 150, for at least 12 to 16 hours daily. Prone positioning recruits dorsal lung zones, improves V/Q matching and gives more uniform ventilation, which reduced mortality in the PROSEVA trial.

Why is "Patients with raised intra-abdominal hypertension only" not the answer?

Intra-abdominal hypertension is a relative contraindication.

Why is "Patients with unstable spinal fractures" not the answer?

Unstable spinal fractures are a contraindication.

Why is "Mild ARDS with PaO2/FiO2 of 280" not the answer?

Mild ARDS is not an indication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: prone positioning in Anaesthesia. Contraindications include unstable spine and open abdomen.

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 Critical care: prone positioning?

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.