Complications and emergencies: massive haemoptysis: 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 · Complications and emergencies: massive haemoptysis

Sample item

A patient with massive haemoptysis from the right lung becomes hypoxic. Which airway strategy best protects the healthy lung?

AInsert a laryngeal mask and allow spontaneous breathingBUse inhalational induction and wait for the cough to clear the bloodCIsolate the bleeding lung with a double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker and ventilate the other lungDApply high PEEP through a single-lumen tube to tamponade the bleeding

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Isolate the bleeding lung with a double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker and ventilate the other lung

The immediate danger of massive haemoptysis is asphyxia and spillage of blood into the good lung. Lung isolation allows ventilation of the healthy side and controlled management of the bleeding, which may then need bronchoscopic or embolisation treatment.

Option by option

A. Insert a laryngeal mask and allow spontaneous breathing
A supraglottic device does not protect the airway from blood.
B. Use inhalational induction and wait for the cough to clear the blood
Waiting risks asphyxia and does not clear the blood.
C. Isolate the bleeding lung with a double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker and ventilate the other lung (correct)
Correct. Lung isolation protects the healthy lung from soiling.
D. Apply high PEEP through a single-lumen tube to tamponade the bleeding
High PEEP does not control the bleeding and will not protect the good lung.

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, Isolate the bleeding lung with a double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker and ventilate the other lung. The immediate danger of massive haemoptysis is asphyxia and spillage of blood into the good lung.

Why is "Insert a laryngeal mask and allow spontaneous breathing" not the answer?

A supraglottic device does not protect the airway from blood.

Why is "Use inhalational induction and wait for the cough to clear the blood" not the answer?

Waiting risks asphyxia and does not clear the blood.

Why is "Apply high PEEP through a single-lumen tube to tamponade the bleeding" not the answer?

High PEEP does not control the bleeding and will not protect the good lung.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Complications and emergencies: massive haemoptysis in Anaesthesia. Lung isolation allows ventilation of the healthy side and controlled management of the bleeding, which may then need bronchoscopic or embolisation treatment.

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 Complications and emergencies: massive haemoptysis?

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.