Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition: 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 · Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition

Sample item

After three weeks of sepsis and mechanical ventilation, a patient fails weaning because of symmetric flaccid limb weakness with reduced reflexes and spared facial muscles. Nerve conduction shows reduced motor and sensory amplitudes, and the CSF protein is normal. What is the likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Critical illness polyneuropathy

Critical illness polyneuropathy is an axonal sensorimotor neuropathy that complicates sepsis and multi-organ failure and prolongs ventilation. Myopathy preserves sensory responses, and Guillain-Barre syndrome shows demyelination with raised CSF protein.

Option by option

  • A. Guillain-Barre syndrome

    Guillain-Barre syndrome shows a demyelinating pattern and a raised CSF protein.

  • B. Critical illness myopathy

    Myopathy has normal sensory nerve responses.

  • C. Critical illness polyneuropathy (correct)

    Correct. Axonal reduction of both motor and sensory amplitudes fits this condition.

  • D. Myasthenic crisis

    Myasthenic crisis is fatigable and has a normal nerve conduction amplitude.

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, Critical illness polyneuropathy. Critical illness polyneuropathy is an axonal sensorimotor neuropathy that complicates sepsis and multi-organ failure and prolongs ventilation.

Why is "Guillain-Barre syndrome" not the answer?

Guillain-Barre syndrome shows a demyelinating pattern and a raised CSF protein.

Why is "Critical illness myopathy" not the answer?

Myopathy has normal sensory nerve responses.

Why is "Myasthenic crisis" not the answer?

Myasthenic crisis is fatigable and has a normal nerve conduction amplitude.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. Myopathy preserves sensory responses, and Guillain-Barre syndrome shows demyelination with raised CSF protein.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Critical care, resuscitation, and emergency principles: curriculum recognition?

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.