Cardiovascular physiology, fluids, and blood management: curriculum recognition: 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 · Cardiovascular physiology, fluids, and blood management: curriculum recognition

Sample item

A nitroglycerin infusion is started and mainly dilates venous capacitance vessels, pooling blood peripherally. Which determinant of cardiac output falls most?

APreloadBContractilityCAfterloadDHeart rate

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Preload

Venodilation reduces venous return and the ventricular filling at end-diastole, which is the preload. Higher doses also dilate arteries and reduce afterload. Preload reduction is the basis of its use in angina and pulmonary oedema.

Option by option

A. Preload (correct)
Correct. Venous pooling lowers ventricular filling.
B. Contractility
Contractility is not directly reduced by this drug.
C. Afterload
Afterload is mainly altered by arteriolar dilators, whereas this drug acts predominantly on veins.
D. Heart rate
Heart rate may rise reflexly and is not what the venodilation lowers.

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, Preload. Venodilation reduces venous return and the ventricular filling at end-diastole, which is the preload.

Why is "Contractility" not the answer?

Contractility is not directly reduced by this drug.

Why is "Afterload" not the answer?

Afterload is mainly altered by arteriolar dilators, whereas this drug acts predominantly on veins.

Why is "Heart rate" not the answer?

Heart rate may rise reflexly and is not what the venodilation lowers.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiovascular physiology, fluids, and blood management: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. Higher doses also dilate arteries and reduce afterload. Preload reduction is the basis of its use in angina and pulmonary oedema.

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 Cardiovascular physiology, fluids, and blood management: curriculum recognition?

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.