Monitoring: intraoperative blood pressure target: 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 · Monitoring: intraoperative blood pressure target

Sample item

Which intraoperative blood pressure target is generally advised to reduce the risk of myocardial injury and acute kidney injury in adults?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Keep mean arterial pressure at or above 65 mmHg

Prolonged periods with a mean arterial pressure below about 65 mmHg are associated with myocardial injury, acute kidney injury and stroke. Higher targets may be needed in chronic hypertension, and cerebral perfusion pressure targets apply in neurosurgery. Hypotension is treated with fluid, vasopressors and by lightening the anaesthetic.

Option by option

  • A. Keep mean arterial pressure at or above 65 mmHg (correct)

    Correct. A MAP of at least 65 mmHg is the common threshold for organ perfusion.

  • B. Keep systolic pressure above 200 mmHg

    A systolic pressure of 200 mmHg is dangerously high.

  • C. Allow mean arterial pressure to fall to 45 mmHg

    A MAP of 45 mmHg risks ischaemic organ injury.

  • D. No blood pressure target is needed during anaesthesia

    Blood pressure is a core monitor and has a target that guides management.

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, Keep mean arterial pressure at or above 65 mmHg. Prolonged periods with a mean arterial pressure below about 65 mmHg are associated with myocardial injury, acute kidney injury and stroke.

Why is "Keep systolic pressure above 200 mmHg" not the answer?

A systolic pressure of 200 mmHg is dangerously high.

Why is "Allow mean arterial pressure to fall to 45 mmHg" not the answer?

A MAP of 45 mmHg risks ischaemic organ injury.

Why is "No blood pressure target is needed during anaesthesia" not the answer?

Blood pressure is a core monitor and has a target that guides management.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Monitoring: intraoperative blood pressure target in Anaesthesia. Higher targets may be needed in chronic hypertension, and cerebral perfusion pressure targets apply in neurosurgery. Hypotension is treated with fluid, vasopressors and by lightening the anaesthetic.

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 Monitoring: intraoperative blood pressure target?

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.