Preoperative assessment: fasting in infants: 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 · Preoperative assessment: fasting in infants

Sample item

A 6-month-old exclusively breastfed infant is scheduled for elective inguinal hernia repair. How long should breast milk be withheld before induction?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 4 hours

Breast milk empties faster than formula and requires a 4 hour fast. Formula milk and a light meal need 6 hours, and a fatty meal needs 8 hours.

Option by option

  • A. 6 hours

    6 hours applies to formula milk, not breast milk.

  • B. 8 hours

    8 hours is for fatty meals in adults.

  • C. 2 hours

    2 hours is only for clear fluids.

  • D. 4 hours (correct)

    Correct. A 4 hour fast is standard for breast milk.

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 D, 4 hours. Breast milk empties faster than formula and requires a 4 hour fast.

Why is "6 hours" not the answer?

6 hours applies to formula milk, not breast milk.

Why is "8 hours" not the answer?

8 hours is for fatty meals in adults.

Why is "2 hours" not the answer?

2 hours is only for clear fluids.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Preoperative assessment: fasting in infants in Anaesthesia. Formula milk and a light meal need 6 hours, and a fatty meal needs 8 hours.

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 Preoperative assessment: fasting in infants?

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.