Local and regional anaesthesia: contraindication to blood patch: 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 · Local and regional anaesthesia: contraindication to blood patch

Sample item

A woman with a severe postural headache after dural puncture is considered for an epidural blood patch. Which condition is a contraindication at present?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Fever with suspected systemic infection

Injecting blood into the epidural space in a bacteraemic or febrile patient risks seeding infection into the epidural space or meninges, so active infection is a contraindication. Failure of conservative treatment is the usual indication, and duration of the headache is not a barrier.

Option by option

  • A. Headache lasting more than 24 hours

    A persistent headache is an indication, not a contraindication.

  • B. Failed conservative treatment with fluids

    Failed conservative therapy is the standard reason to offer a patch.

  • C. Fever with suspected systemic infection (correct)

    Correct. Blood in the epidural space can carry infection into the central nervous system.

  • D. Previous caesarean section

    A previous caesarean does not prevent a patch.

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, Fever with suspected systemic infection. Injecting blood into the epidural space in a bacteraemic or febrile patient risks seeding infection into the epidural space or meninges, so active infection is a contraindication.

Why is "Headache lasting more than 24 hours" not the answer?

A persistent headache is an indication, not a contraindication.

Why is "Failed conservative treatment with fluids" not the answer?

Failed conservative therapy is the standard reason to offer a patch.

Why is "Previous caesarean section" not the answer?

A previous caesarean does not prevent a patch.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Local and regional anaesthesia: contraindication to blood patch in Anaesthesia. Failure of conservative treatment is the usual indication, and duration of the headache is not a barrier.

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 Local and regional anaesthesia: contraindication to blood patch?

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.