ACLS: amiodarone: 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 · ACLS: amiodarone

Sample item

A patient with refractory ventricular fibrillation has received three shocks and adrenaline. What is the dose of amiodarone?

A600 mg bolusB5 mg/kg infusion over 24 hours onlyC50 mg bolusD300 mg bolus, followed by 150 mg if needed

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 300 mg bolus, followed by 150 mg if needed

Amiodarone 300 mg is given intravenously for shock-refractory VF or pulseless VT, and a second dose of 150 mg may follow. Lidocaine is an alternative.

Option by option

A. 600 mg bolus
600 mg exceeds the dose.
B. 5 mg/kg infusion over 24 hours only
A slow infusion is used after ROSC, not in arrest.
C. 50 mg bolus
50 mg is too low.
D. 300 mg bolus, followed by 150 mg if needed (correct)
Correct. 300 mg then 150 mg.

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 D, 300 mg bolus, followed by 150 mg if needed. Amiodarone 300 mg is given intravenously for shock-refractory VF or pulseless VT, and a second dose of 150 mg may follow.

Why is "600 mg bolus" not the answer?

600 mg exceeds the dose.

Why is "5 mg/kg infusion over 24 hours only" not the answer?

A slow infusion is used after ROSC, not in arrest.

Why is "50 mg bolus" not the answer?

50 mg is too low.

What concept does this question test?

It tests ACLS: amiodarone in Anaesthesia. Lidocaine is an alternative.

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 ACLS: amiodarone?

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.