FCPS IMM Anesthesia Critical Care & Resuscitation MCQs: High-Yield Practice Questions & Prep
Sample FCPS IMM Anesthesia critical care & resuscitation MCQs on cardiac arrest, shock, ventilation strategies, sepsis and acid-base disturbance, with the reasoning behind every answer.
Critical Care & Resuscitation is one of the subject blocks in the FCPS IMM Anesthesia QBank. It covers cardiac arrest, shock, ventilation strategies, sepsis and acid-base disturbance. Below is a sample set in the style of the bank, with the reasoning after each answer.
Sample MCQs
1. Which of the following is true about brain death?
- A) Complete loss of cerebral cortical function but preservation of brainstem reflexes.
- B) Irreversible loss of all brain function, including the brainstem, with inability to breathe independently. ✅
- C) Persistent vegetative state where higher brain functions are lost, but spontaneous respiratory effort is present.
- D) Reversible coma with absence of brainstem reflexes.
Why: Brain death is a permanent, irreversible, and complete loss of brain function (both cerebral and brain-stem functions).
2. In a cardiac arrest victim, when there is more than one rescuer present, what is the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio during CPR?
- A) 15:2
- B) 30:2 ✅
- C) 15:1
- D) 30:1
Why: The recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio for CPR with more than one rescuer is 30:2. This ratio involves providing 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
3. An unresponsive patient in ambulance on attachment of monitors showed following rhythm. What should be done immediately?
- A) Check for pulse and breathing
- B) Chest compressions and defibrillation ✅
- C) Put the patient in left lateral position
- D) Cardioversion
Why: Chest compressions and defibrillation are the appropriate immediate actions to take when a patient in cardiac arrest is unresponsive and shows an abnormal rhythm on the attached monitors.
4. What is the appropriate preoperative fasting recommendation?
- A) 4 hours for solids in adults
- B) 2 hours for liquids in adults ✅
- C) 2 hours for breast milk in infants
- D) 4 hours for solids in infants
Why: A preoperative fasting period is a time prescribed before any procedure that involves general anesthesia, sedation, or regional anesthesia.
5. Which of the following can be considered effective CPR? Respiratory rate: 20-24 breaths per minute Chest compressions: 100-120/min Allow complete chest recoil 5-6cm deep compression
- A) 1,2,3 and 4
- B) 1,2 and 4
- C) 2,3 and 4 ✅
- D) 1 and 2 only
Why: Effective CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is crucial in providing life-saving measures during cardiac arrest.
6. A healthcare provider is managing a patient with cardiac arrest due to pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Which of the following is a key advantage of using manual defibrillators in this scenario?
- A) They are easier to operate than Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
- B) Manual defibrillators can allow the users to adjust energy levels based on their clinical judgement. ✅
- C) They can be used by bystanders.
- D) They are used independently, without ECG monitoring.
Why: One of the key advantages of manual defibrillators is the ability to synchronize shocks with the patient's heartbeat.
7. If epinephrine fails to be effective, what other medication would you consider using for cardiac arrest?
- A) Vasopressin
- B) Atropine
- C) Amiodarone ✅
- D) Adenosine
Why: Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that is commonly used in the management of cardiac arrest. It is used when initial treatments, such as epinephrine, fail to restore a stable heart rhythm.
8. A patient presents with no pulse, and the ECG shows the following rhythm. What is the next appropriate step?
- A) Defibrillate, check pulse and then perform CPR
- B) Cardioversion
- C) Defibrillate, perform CPR, and then check the pulse ✅
- D) Administer epinephrine
Why: According to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) guidelines, for a shockable rhythm like ventricular tachycardia, the first step is to defibrillate the patient.
9. In a 60-year-old patient who has just experienced a cardiac arrest, which of the following interventions is not a part of the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocol?
- A) Amiodarone
- B) Defibrillation
- C) Adrenaline
- D) Soda Bicarbonate ✅
Why: While sodium bicarbonate used to be a part of ACLS protocols in the past, its use has become more limited in recent guidelines.
How to Study This Block
- Know the current adult basic and advanced life support sequence.
- Match shock types with haemodynamic profiles.
- Learn the principles of lung-protective ventilation.
Each subject in the QBank can be filtered on its own, so you can drill critical care & resuscitation until your accuracy is stable. Confirm the exam format and syllabus against the current CPSP guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which resuscitation guidelines are used?
The questions follow widely used international guidelines; confirm the version your course specifies.
Is ICU management tested?
Yes, at the level an anaesthesia trainee is expected to handle.
Practise With the Full QBank
The FCPS IMM Anesthesia QBank has a free trial batch in Tutor mode, subject filters and Timed mode. Related: complete exam guide, how to use recalls.
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