Pain physiology: multimodal analgesia: 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 · Pain physiology: multimodal analgesia

Sample item

After a knee replacement, a patient receives regular paracetamol, an NSAID, a femoral nerve block and a low dose of opioid, which together provide better pain relief than a high dose of any one drug and with fewer side effects. What is this approach called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Multimodal analgesia

Multimodal analgesia combines agents and techniques acting at different sites of the pain pathway so that effects add up while the dose and adverse effects of each, especially opioids, are reduced. Pre-emptive analgesia is about timing, and PCA is a method of delivery.

Option by option

  • A. Multimodal analgesia (correct)

    Correct. Drugs with complementary mechanisms are combined to reduce the dose of each.

  • B. Patient-controlled analgesia

    Patient-controlled analgesia describes self-administered boluses from a pump, not a combination of mechanisms.

  • C. Pre-emptive analgesia

    Pre-emptive analgesia means giving analgesia before the surgical stimulus to blunt central sensitisation.

  • D. Balanced anaesthesia

    Balanced anaesthesia combines hypnotic, analgesic and relaxant components of general anaesthesia.

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 A, Multimodal analgesia. Multimodal analgesia combines agents and techniques acting at different sites of the pain pathway so that effects add up while the dose and adverse effects of each, especially opioids, are reduced.

Why is "Patient-controlled analgesia" not the answer?

Patient-controlled analgesia describes self-administered boluses from a pump, not a combination of mechanisms.

Why is "Pre-emptive analgesia" not the answer?

Pre-emptive analgesia means giving analgesia before the surgical stimulus to blunt central sensitisation.

Why is "Balanced anaesthesia" not the answer?

Balanced anaesthesia combines hypnotic, analgesic and relaxant components of general anaesthesia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pain physiology: multimodal analgesia in Anaesthesia. Pre-emptive analgesia is about timing, and PCA is a method of delivery.

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 Pain physiology: multimodal analgesia?

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.