Clinical Practice & Patient Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Practice & Patient Safety flashcards as text
A patient with suspected malignant hyperthermia (MH) crisis develops a temperature of 39.8°C, masseter spasm, and rising ETCO2. What is the FIRST priority intervention?
Answer: Discontinue all triggering agents and change to a clean circuit
Removing the triggering agent (volatile anesthetics and succinylcholine) is the first step in MH management before dantrolene administration.
Which of the following best describes the 'surgical safety checklist' Sign-Out phase according to WHO guidelines?
Answer: Reviewing key concerns for recovery and specimen labeling before the patient leaves the OR
The Sign-Out phase occurs before the patient leaves the OR and covers instrument counts, specimen labeling, equipment issues, and recovery concerns.
A 70 kg patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery develops sudden hypotension, tachycardia, and decreased ETCO2 despite high airway pressures. The MOST likely diagnosis is:
Answer: Venous gas embolism
Venous gas embolism from CO2 insufflation presents with sudden cardiovascular collapse and a characteristic mill-wheel murmur, with a drop in ETCO2 due to dead space increase.
Which monitoring modality is MOST useful for detecting intraoperative awareness during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA)?
Answer: Processed EEG (e.g., BIS monitor)
Processed EEG monitors like BIS are particularly valuable during TIVA because end-tidal agent concentration cannot be used to verify adequate depth.
A patient receiving an epidural infusion develops sudden onset bilateral lower extremity weakness and urinary retention 12 hours postoperatively. What is the MOST urgent next step?
Answer: Order an emergent MRI of the spine to rule out epidural hematoma
New-onset neurological deficits after epidural analgesia require emergent MRI to rule out epidural hematoma, as delays beyond 8 hours worsen neurological outcomes.
According to the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm, which intervention is indicated when a 'cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate' (CICO) situation is declared?
Answer: Proceed with emergency surgical airway
CICO is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate emergency surgical airway (cricothyrotomy) to establish oxygenation.
Which of the following is the MOST effective strategy to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in the perioperative setting?
Answer: Daily reassessment and early removal of urinary catheters when no longer needed
The single most effective CAUTI prevention strategy is prompt removal of urinary catheters as soon as they are no longer clinically indicated.