Special arrest: lightning injury: 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 arrest: lightning injury

Sample item

When several victims of a lightning strike appear lifeless, which approach to triage is recommended?

ATreat those with the best prognosis firstBTreat only the consciousCTreat those in cardiac arrest first, since they can be revivedDIgnore the apparently dead

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Treat those in cardiac arrest first, since they can be revived

Unlike in other mass casualty events, lightning victims in cardiac or respiratory arrest are resuscitated first because they often respond if hypoxia is reversed quickly. This is a reverse triage principle. Prolonged resuscitation is justified.

Option by option

A. Treat those with the best prognosis first
Standard triage does not apply here.
B. Treat only the conscious
Excluding arrest victims would cost lives.
C. Treat those in cardiac arrest first, since they can be revived (correct)
Correct. Arrested victims can often be revived and take priority.
D. Ignore the apparently dead
Apparently dead victims may recover with CPR.

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.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Treat those in cardiac arrest first, since they can be revived. Unlike in other mass casualty events, lightning victims in cardiac or respiratory arrest are resuscitated first because they often respond if hypoxia is reversed quickly.

Why is "Treat those with the best prognosis first" not the answer?

Standard triage does not apply here.

Why is "Treat only the conscious" not the answer?

Excluding arrest victims would cost lives.

Why is "Ignore the apparently dead" not the answer?

Apparently dead victims may recover with CPR.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special arrest: lightning injury in Anaesthesia. This is a reverse triage principle. Prolonged resuscitation is justified.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 arrest: lightning injury?

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.