Special populations and acute pain: 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 · Special populations and acute pain: curriculum recognition

Sample item

A woman at term needs general anaesthesia. Which change in the pregnant airway increases the risk of difficult intubation and bleeding during laryngoscopy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Capillary engorgement and oedema of the mucosa

Pregnancy causes mucosal capillary engorgement and oedema, so the airway is friable and narrower, and the view at laryngoscopy may be worse. A smaller tracheal tube is chosen, and nasal instrumentation is avoided. The airway oedema increases further in pre-eclampsia.

Option by option

  • A. Increased mouth opening from ligament laxity

    Ligament laxity does not improve mouth opening in pregnancy.

  • B. Capillary engorgement and oedema of the mucosa (correct)

    Correct. Mucosal oedema narrows the airway and makes it bleed easily.

  • C. Straighter neck due to loss of cervical lordosis

    No such neck change occurs, and breast enlargement can make laryngoscopy harder.

  • D. Reduced tongue volume from fluid shifts

    Tongue volume does not fall in pregnancy.

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, Capillary engorgement and oedema of the mucosa. Pregnancy causes mucosal capillary engorgement and oedema, so the airway is friable and narrower, and the view at laryngoscopy may be worse.

Why is "Increased mouth opening from ligament laxity" not the answer?

Ligament laxity does not improve mouth opening in pregnancy.

Why is "Straighter neck due to loss of cervical lordosis" not the answer?

No such neck change occurs, and breast enlargement can make laryngoscopy harder.

Why is "Reduced tongue volume from fluid shifts" not the answer?

Tongue volume does not fall in pregnancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special populations and acute pain: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. A smaller tracheal tube is chosen, and nasal instrumentation is avoided. The airway oedema increases further in pre-eclampsia.

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 Special populations and acute pain: 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.