Emergency and critical care: capnography during resuscitation: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Emergency and critical care: capnography during resuscitation

Sample item

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the end-tidal carbon dioxide trace suddenly jumps from 10 to 40 mmHg. What does this most likely indicate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Return of spontaneous circulation

End-tidal carbon dioxide depends on pulmonary blood flow, so a sudden sustained rise during CPR suggests return of spontaneous circulation. A persistently low value despite good CPR predicts a poor outcome.

Option by option

  • A. Return of spontaneous circulation (correct)

    Correct. Restored cardiac output delivers more carbon dioxide to the lungs.

  • B. Oesophageal intubation

    Oesophageal intubation gives a flat or absent trace.

  • C. Disconnection of the circuit

    Circuit disconnection loses the waveform altogether.

  • D. Tension pneumothorax

    Tension pneumothorax reduces output and lowers the trace.

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.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Return of spontaneous circulation. End-tidal carbon dioxide depends on pulmonary blood flow, so a sudden sustained rise during CPR suggests return of spontaneous circulation.

Why is "Oesophageal intubation" not the answer?

Oesophageal intubation gives a flat or absent trace.

Why is "Disconnection of the circuit" not the answer?

Circuit disconnection loses the waveform altogether.

Why is "Tension pneumothorax" not the answer?

Tension pneumothorax reduces output and lowers the trace.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency and critical care: capnography during resuscitation in General Medicine. A persistently low value despite good CPR predicts a poor outcome.

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 Emergency and critical care: capnography during resuscitation?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.