Complications, recovery, and safety culture: 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 · Complications, recovery, and safety culture: curriculum recognition

Sample item

During a laparotomy the ventilator of the anaesthesia machine stops and cannot be restarted, and the cause is not obvious. What is the immediate priority?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Disconnect from the machine and ventilate with a self-inflating bag on oxygen

When a machine fails and the problem is not quickly found, the patient is disconnected and ventilated with an independent self-inflating bag, using oxygen if available. The aim is to keep the patient oxygenated while a replacement is obtained, and anaesthesia is continued intravenously if needed. A self-inflating bag should be available at every anaesthetic location.

Option by option

  • A. Disconnect from the machine and ventilate with a self-inflating bag on oxygen (correct)

    Correct. An independent self-inflating bag keeps the patient ventilated while the fault is dealt with.

  • B. Keep troubleshooting the machine while the patient stays connected

    Troubleshooting while the patient is connected leaves the patient unventilated.

  • C. Raise the vaporiser setting to keep the patient asleep

    More vapour does nothing to ventilation and may deepen anaesthesia in an unventilated patient.

  • D. Pause the surgery and wait for the machine to be serviced

    Waiting for a service call leaves the patient without ventilation and is unsafe.

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 A, Disconnect from the machine and ventilate with a self-inflating bag on oxygen. When a machine fails and the problem is not quickly found, the patient is disconnected and ventilated with an independent self-inflating bag, using oxygen if available.

Why is "Keep troubleshooting the machine while the patient stays connected" not the answer?

Troubleshooting while the patient is connected leaves the patient unventilated.

Why is "Raise the vaporiser setting to keep the patient asleep" not the answer?

More vapour does nothing to ventilation and may deepen anaesthesia in an unventilated patient.

Why is "Pause the surgery and wait for the machine to be serviced" not the answer?

Waiting for a service call leaves the patient without ventilation and is unsafe.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications, recovery, and safety culture: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. The aim is to keep the patient oxygenated while a replacement is obtained, and anaesthesia is continued intravenously if needed. A self-inflating bag should be available at every anaesthetic location.

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 Complications, recovery, and safety culture: 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.