NEET-PG 2018 — Anesthesiology

Q: Modified Mallampati grading is used in assessment of -

Difficulty of intubation. ***Difficulty of intubation*** - The **Modified Mallampati score** assesses the visibility of pharyngeal structures, which directly correlates with the ease or difficulty of performing **direct laryngoscopy** and **endotracheal intubation**. - A higher Mallampati class (e.g., III or IV) indicates less visibility of the soft palate, uvula, and pillars, suggesting a more difficult airway and increased likelihood of a challenging intubation. *Obstruction of the airway* - While a high Mallampati score might indirectly indicate potential for **airway obstruction** during anesthesia due to anatomical features, its primary purpose is not to diagnose or quantify existing airway obstruction. - Airway obstruction is more directly assessed by monitoring breathing sounds, respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation. *Aspiration-related death* - The **Mallampati score** helps predict the difficulty of securing the airway but does not directly assess the risk of **aspiration**. - Aspiration risk is evaluated based on factors like gastric contents, gag reflex, and patient positioning. *Endotracheal intubation procedure* - The **Modified Mallampati score** helps in **planning the intubation procedure** by identifying potential difficulties but is not a measure of the intubation procedure itself. - It is a **pre-procedure assessment tool** to gauge airway anatomy, not a description or evaluation of the steps involved in endotracheal intubation. [Practice more Anesthesiology PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: In ACLS, which antiarrhythmic drug can be given following ventricular fibrillation after cardiac arrest other than epinephrine?

Amiodarone. ***Amiodarone*** - **Amiodarone** is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent recommended in ACLS for **refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF)** or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) after initial defibrillation and epinephrine. - It works by blocking potassium channels, prolonging repolarization, and increasing the **refractory period** in the heart. *Dopamine* - **Dopamine** is a **vasopressor** used to improve **hemodynamics** in patients with symptomatic hypotension, not primarily as an antiarrhythmic for VF. - Its effects include increasing heart rate, myocardial contractility, and blood pressure. *Adenosine* - **Adenosine** is a drug of choice for **supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)** to interrupt reentry pathways in the AV node. - It is not indicated for ventricular fibrillation, as it would be ineffective in this rhythm. *Atropine* - **Atropine** is an **anticholinergic agent** used to treat **symptomatic bradycardia** by increasing heart rate. - It has no role in the management of ventricular fibrillation. [Practice more Anesthesiology PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Murphy's eye is seen in -

Endotracheal tube. ***Endotracheal tube*** - A Murphy's eye is a **hole on the side** of the endotracheal tube, near the distal tip, opposite the main bevel. - Its purpose is to provide an **alternative pathway for gas flow** if the main opening of the tube becomes occluded by secretions or contact with the tracheal wall. *Flexible laryngoscope* - This device is used for **visualizing the airway** and guiding endotracheal tube placement, not for maintaining it. - It does not have a Murphy's eye as it is a diagnostic/guiding tool, not a conduit for ventilation. *Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)* - An LMA is a **supraglottic airway device** that creates a seal around the laryngeal inlet. - It does not have a Murphy's eye as its design doesn't involve intralaryngeal distal tip placement where occlusion by the tracheal wall is a primary concern. *Macintosh laryngoscope* - This is a type of **laryngoscope blade** used to visualize the vocal cords during intubation. - It is an instrument for intubation, not the airway device itself, and therefore does not have a Murphy's eye. [Practice more Anesthesiology PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Anesthesia of choice for cesarean section in severe preeclampsia:-

Spinal. ***Spinal*** - **Spinal anesthesia** is generally preferred in severe preeclampsia because it provides **rapid onset** of dense block, which can be critical for emergent cesarean sections. - It avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia in these patients, such as difficult intubation and exaggerated **hypertensive response** to laryngoscopy. *GA* - **General anesthesia (GA)** in severe preeclampsia carries increased risks due to **airway edema**, potential for difficult intubation, and significant **blood pressure fluctuations** during induction and intubation. - It can exacerbate the already compromised uteroplacental perfusion due to the sympathetic blockade and the potential for a **hypotensive episode**. *Epidural* - While generally safe in less severe preeclampsia, an **epidural** has a **slower onset** compared to spinal anesthesia, which may be a disadvantage in emergent situations. - The gradual sympathetic blockade with an epidural is often preferred to avoid sudden drops in blood pressure, but the delay in achieving a surgical block might not be acceptable in severe, unstable cases. *Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)* - **Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)** offers the rapid onset of a spinal block with the flexibility of an epidural catheter for prolonged anesthesia or postoperative pain control. - However, in cases of severe preeclampsia where **hemodynamic instability** is a major concern, the relatively larger dose of local anesthetic required for epidural component can lead to a more pronounced or rapid drop in blood pressure. [Practice more Anesthesiology PYQs on OnCourse]

4 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations

Questions

Modified Mallampati grading is used in assessment of -

In ACLS, which antiarrhythmic drug can be given following ventricular fibrillation after cardiac arrest other than epinephrine?

Murphy's eye is seen in -

Anesthesia of choice for cesarean section in severe preeclampsia:-

NEET-PG 2018 - Anesthesiology NEET-PG Practice Questions and MCQs

Question 1: Modified Mallampati grading is used in assessment of -

A. Difficulty of intubation (Correct Answer)
B. Obstruction of the airway
C. Aspiration-related death
D. Endotracheal intubation procedure

Explanation: ***Difficulty of intubation*** - The **Modified Mallampati score** assesses the visibility of pharyngeal structures, which directly correlates with the ease or difficulty of performing **direct laryngoscopy** and **endotracheal intubation**. - A higher Mallampati class (e.g., III or IV) indicates less visibility of the soft palate, uvula, and pillars, suggesting a more difficult airway and increased likelihood of a challenging intubation. *Obstruction of the airway* - While a high Mallampati score might indirectly indicate potential for **airway obstruction** during anesthesia due to anatomical features, its primary purpose is not to diagnose or quantify existing airway obstruction. - Airway obstruction is more directly assessed by monitoring breathing sounds, respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation. *Aspiration-related death* - The **Mallampati score** helps predict the difficulty of securing the airway but does not directly assess the risk of **aspiration**. - Aspiration risk is evaluated based on factors like gastric contents, gag reflex, and patient positioning. *Endotracheal intubation procedure* - The **Modified Mallampati score** helps in **planning the intubation procedure** by identifying potential difficulties but is not a measure of the intubation procedure itself. - It is a **pre-procedure assessment tool** to gauge airway anatomy, not a description or evaluation of the steps involved in endotracheal intubation.

Question 2: In ACLS, which antiarrhythmic drug can be given following ventricular fibrillation after cardiac arrest other than epinephrine?

A. Amiodarone (Correct Answer)
B. Dopamine
C. Adenosine
D. Atropine

Explanation: ***Amiodarone*** - **Amiodarone** is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent recommended in ACLS for **refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF)** or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) after initial defibrillation and epinephrine. - It works by blocking potassium channels, prolonging repolarization, and increasing the **refractory period** in the heart. *Dopamine* - **Dopamine** is a **vasopressor** used to improve **hemodynamics** in patients with symptomatic hypotension, not primarily as an antiarrhythmic for VF. - Its effects include increasing heart rate, myocardial contractility, and blood pressure. *Adenosine* - **Adenosine** is a drug of choice for **supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)** to interrupt reentry pathways in the AV node. - It is not indicated for ventricular fibrillation, as it would be ineffective in this rhythm. *Atropine* - **Atropine** is an **anticholinergic agent** used to treat **symptomatic bradycardia** by increasing heart rate. - It has no role in the management of ventricular fibrillation.

Question 3: Murphy's eye is seen in -

A. Endotracheal tube (Correct Answer)
B. Flexible laryngoscope
C. Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)
D. Macintosh laryngoscope

Explanation: ***Endotracheal tube*** - A Murphy's eye is a **hole on the side** of the endotracheal tube, near the distal tip, opposite the main bevel. - Its purpose is to provide an **alternative pathway for gas flow** if the main opening of the tube becomes occluded by secretions or contact with the tracheal wall. *Flexible laryngoscope* - This device is used for **visualizing the airway** and guiding endotracheal tube placement, not for maintaining it. - It does not have a Murphy's eye as it is a diagnostic/guiding tool, not a conduit for ventilation. *Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA)* - An LMA is a **supraglottic airway device** that creates a seal around the laryngeal inlet. - It does not have a Murphy's eye as its design doesn't involve intralaryngeal distal tip placement where occlusion by the tracheal wall is a primary concern. *Macintosh laryngoscope* - This is a type of **laryngoscope blade** used to visualize the vocal cords during intubation. - It is an instrument for intubation, not the airway device itself, and therefore does not have a Murphy's eye.

Question 4: Anesthesia of choice for cesarean section in severe preeclampsia:-

A. Spinal (Correct Answer)
B. GA
C. Epidural
D. Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)

Explanation: ***Spinal*** - **Spinal anesthesia** is generally preferred in severe preeclampsia because it provides **rapid onset** of dense block, which can be critical for emergent cesarean sections. - It avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia in these patients, such as difficult intubation and exaggerated **hypertensive response** to laryngoscopy. *GA* - **General anesthesia (GA)** in severe preeclampsia carries increased risks due to **airway edema**, potential for difficult intubation, and significant **blood pressure fluctuations** during induction and intubation. - It can exacerbate the already compromised uteroplacental perfusion due to the sympathetic blockade and the potential for a **hypotensive episode**. *Epidural* - While generally safe in less severe preeclampsia, an **epidural** has a **slower onset** compared to spinal anesthesia, which may be a disadvantage in emergent situations. - The gradual sympathetic blockade with an epidural is often preferred to avoid sudden drops in blood pressure, but the delay in achieving a surgical block might not be acceptable in severe, unstable cases. *Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)* - **Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)** offers the rapid onset of a spinal block with the flexibility of an epidural catheter for prolonged anesthesia or postoperative pain control. - However, in cases of severe preeclampsia where **hemodynamic instability** is a major concern, the relatively larger dose of local anesthetic required for epidural component can lead to a more pronounced or rapid drop in blood pressure.