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 patient-controlled pump delivers a fixed bolus of morphine whenever the button is pressed, but ignores further presses for the next several minutes. What is the purpose of this ignored period?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. To prevent another dose before the previous one has reached peak effect

The lockout interval is the time after a successful demand during which further presses deliver nothing. It allows each bolus to reach its peak effect before the next is given, so stacking of doses and overdose are avoided. The patient's own sedation then acts as an additional safeguard.

Option by option

  • A. To prevent another dose before the previous one has reached peak effect (correct)

    Correct. The pause lets each bolus act before another can be taken.

  • B. To allow the nurse to override the patient's demands

    The lockout is automatic and has nothing to do with nurse override.

  • C. To give a larger loading dose on the first press

    A loading dose is a separate programmed setting given when the pump is started.

  • D. To supply a steady baseline level of analgesia between demands

    A steady baseline supply is a background infusion, which the lockout does not provide.

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, To prevent another dose before the previous one has reached peak effect. The lockout interval is the time after a successful demand during which further presses deliver nothing.

Why is "To allow the nurse to override the patient's demands" not the answer?

The lockout is automatic and has nothing to do with nurse override.

Why is "To give a larger loading dose on the first press" not the answer?

A loading dose is a separate programmed setting given when the pump is started.

Why is "To supply a steady baseline level of analgesia between demands" not the answer?

A steady baseline supply is a background infusion, which the lockout does not provide.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special populations and acute pain: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. It allows each bolus to reach its peak effect before the next is given, so stacking of doses and overdose are avoided. The patient's own sedation then acts as an additional safeguard.

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.