Critical care: dabigatran reversal: 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 · Critical care: dabigatran reversal

Sample item

Which agent specifically reverses the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Idarucizumab

Idarucizumab is a humanised antibody fragment that binds dabigatran with high affinity and neutralises its effect within minutes. Andexanet alfa reverses factor Xa inhibitors such as rivaroxaban and apixaban. Protamine and vitamin K do not reverse direct oral anticoagulants.

Option by option

  • A. Idarucizumab (correct)

    Correct. Idarucizumab is the specific antidote.

  • B. Vitamin K

    Vitamin K reverses warfarin.

  • C. Protamine

    Protamine reverses heparin.

  • D. Andexanet alfa

    Andexanet reverses factor Xa inhibitors.

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, Idarucizumab. Idarucizumab is a humanised antibody fragment that binds dabigatran with high affinity and neutralises its effect within minutes.

Why is "Vitamin K" not the answer?

Vitamin K reverses warfarin.

Why is "Protamine" not the answer?

Protamine reverses heparin.

Why is "Andexanet alfa" not the answer?

Andexanet reverses factor Xa inhibitors.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: dabigatran reversal in Anaesthesia. Andexanet alfa reverses factor Xa inhibitors such as rivaroxaban and apixaban. Protamine and vitamin K do not reverse direct oral anticoagulants.

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 Critical care: dabigatran reversal?

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.