Emergency: hyperkalaemia: 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 · Emergency: hyperkalaemia

Sample item

A patient has a serum potassium of 7.2 mEq/L with peaked T waves and widened QRS. What is the first drug?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Intravenous calcium gluconate or chloride

Calcium stabilises the cardiac membrane within minutes and is given first when ECG changes are present. Insulin with glucose, salbutamol and bicarbonate then shift potassium into cells.

Option by option

  • A. Intravenous calcium gluconate or chloride (correct)

    Correct. Calcium protects the myocardium.

  • B. Furosemide alone

    Diuretics are slower and secondary.

  • C. Intravenous potassium

    Potassium would worsen the condition.

  • D. Oral resin

    Resin acts slowly.

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, Intravenous calcium gluconate or chloride. Calcium stabilises the cardiac membrane within minutes and is given first when ECG changes are present.

Why is "Furosemide alone" not the answer?

Diuretics are slower and secondary.

Why is "Intravenous potassium" not the answer?

Potassium would worsen the condition.

Why is "Oral resin" not the answer?

Resin acts slowly.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency: hyperkalaemia in Anaesthesia. Insulin with glucose, salbutamol and bicarbonate then shift potassium into cells.

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 Emergency: hyperkalaemia?

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.