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.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Special populations and acute pain: curriculum recognition

Sample item

A 34-year-old woman has had an inguinal hernia repair as a day case under general anaesthesia. She is awake, comfortable and haemodynamically stable. Which condition is essential before she is allowed to leave the unit?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. A responsible adult to take her home and stay with her

After day-case general anaesthesia, judgement and psychomotor skills stay impaired for hours. Safe discharge therefore needs a responsible adult escort and written instructions with a contact number. Driving, signing legal documents and drinking alcohol are forbidden for 24 hours.

Option by option

  • A. Ability to drive herself home once fully awake

    Driving is prohibited for 24 hours after general anaesthesia even when the patient feels alert.

  • B. Compulsory 24-hour overnight observation

    Day-case surgery exists precisely so that routine overnight stay is not required.

  • C. A responsible adult to take her home and stay with her (correct)

    Correct. An escort and supervision at home are standard requirements for day-case discharge.

  • D. A normal postoperative haemoglobin on a routine blood test

    Routine postoperative blood tests are not a discharge requirement for an uncomplicated hernia repair.

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.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, A responsible adult to take her home and stay with her. After day-case general anaesthesia, judgement and psychomotor skills stay impaired for hours.

Why is "Ability to drive herself home once fully awake" not the answer?

Driving is prohibited for 24 hours after general anaesthesia even when the patient feels alert.

Why is "Compulsory 24-hour overnight observation" not the answer?

Day-case surgery exists precisely so that routine overnight stay is not required.

Why is "A normal postoperative haemoglobin on a routine blood test" not the answer?

Routine postoperative blood tests are not a discharge requirement for an uncomplicated hernia repair.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special populations and acute pain: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. Safe discharge therefore needs a responsible adult escort and written instructions with a contact number. Driving, signing legal documents and drinking alcohol are forbidden for 24 hours.

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 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.