Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: 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 · Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition

Sample item

After 30 mL/kg of crystalloid for pneumonia with infection, a patient still needs noradrenaline to keep the mean arterial pressure at 65 mmHg, and the serum lactate is 3.5 mmol/L. Which diagnosis fits?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Septic shock

By the Sepsis-3 definition, septic shock is sepsis with persistent hypotension needing vasopressors to maintain a mean pressure of 65 mmHg and a lactate above 2 mmol/L despite adequate fluid. Sepsis alone does not need vasopressors for circulatory failure.

Option by option

  • A. Systemic inflammation without infection

    There is a documented infection, so this is not a non-infective inflammatory state.

  • B. Septic shock (correct)

    Correct. Vasopressor dependence with a raised lactate despite fluids defines this condition.

  • C. Sepsis without circulatory failure

    Sepsis without circulatory failure would not need a vasopressor after fluid.

  • D. Hypovolaemic shock from occult bleeding

    The background of infection and the response to vasopressor point to a septic cause, not bleeding.

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 B, Septic shock. By the Sepsis-3 definition, septic shock is sepsis with persistent hypotension needing vasopressors to maintain a mean pressure of 65 mmHg and a lactate above 2 mmol/L despite adequate fluid.

Why is "Systemic inflammation without infection" not the answer?

There is a documented infection, so this is not a non-infective inflammatory state.

Why is "Sepsis without circulatory failure" not the answer?

Sepsis without circulatory failure would not need a vasopressor after fluid.

Why is "Hypovolaemic shock from occult bleeding" not the answer?

The background of infection and the response to vasopressor point to a septic cause, not bleeding.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. Sepsis alone does not need vasopressors for circulatory failure.

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, resuscitation, and emergency principles: 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.