Post-cardiac arrest care: timing of prognostication: 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 · Post-cardiac arrest care: timing of prognostication

Sample item

When should multimodal neurological prognostication be performed after cardiac arrest?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. At least 72 hours after return to normothermia

Sedatives, hypothermia and metabolic disturbance confound early examinations. Prognostication therefore waits at least 72 hours after return to normothermia and combines examination, EEG, imaging, evoked potentials and biomarkers. Decisions are never based on a single test.

Option by option

  • A. Immediately on arrival to the unit

    Immediate assessment is unreliable.

  • B. Only after discharge

    Prognostication is needed during the ICU stay.

  • C. At least 72 hours after return to normothermia (correct)

    Correct. A delay of at least 72 hours avoids false pessimism.

  • D. Within 6 hours

    Six hours is too early.

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 C, At least 72 hours after return to normothermia. Sedatives, hypothermia and metabolic disturbance confound early examinations.

Why is "Immediately on arrival to the unit" not the answer?

Immediate assessment is unreliable.

Why is "Only after discharge" not the answer?

Prognostication is needed during the ICU stay.

Why is "Within 6 hours" not the answer?

Six hours is too early.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Post-cardiac arrest care: timing of prognostication in Anaesthesia. Prognostication therefore waits at least 72 hours after return to normothermia and combines examination, EEG, imaging, evoked potentials and biomarkers. Decisions are never based on a single test.

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 Post-cardiac arrest care: timing of prognostication?

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.