Best Practices & Standard Procedures 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 Best Practices & Standard Procedures flashcards as text
Per ASA practice guidelines, which intraoperative finding should trigger immediate re-evaluation for malignant hyperthermia (MH)?
Answer: Unexplained tachycardia combined with masseter muscle rigidity and rising CO2
The combination of unexplained tachycardia, masseter rigidity, and rising end-tidal CO2 are classic early signs of MH that mandate immediate evaluation and treatment.
The ASA recommends administration of prophylactic antiemetics for PONV primarily based on which tool?
Answer: The Apfel simplified risk score
The Apfel score uses four risk factors (female sex, non-smoker, history of PONV/motion sickness, postoperative opioid use) to stratify PONV risk and guide prophylaxis.
According to ASA standards, which device provides the EARLIEST warning of unintentional esophageal intubation?
Answer: Continuous capnography (end-tidal CO2)
Continuous capnography provides immediate confirmation of endotracheal tube placement by detecting exhaled CO2; it detects esophageal intubation before oxygen desaturation occurs.
The ASA practice advisory on acute pain management recommends which approach for postoperative pain as the preferred strategy?
Answer: Multimodal analgesia combining opioids with non-opioid analgesics
Multimodal analgesia combining regional techniques, non-opioid analgesics (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, ketamine), and opioids is the ASA-recommended strategy to optimize pain control while minimizing opioid side effects.
Which criterion from the modified Aldrete score must be met before a patient can be discharged from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
Answer: Patient must have a score of 9 or 10 out of 10
A modified Aldrete score of 9 or 10 (out of 10), assessing activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation, is the standard threshold for PACU discharge.
Per ASRA (American Society of Regional Anesthesia) guidelines endorsed by ASA, the recommended interval between the LAST dose of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis and neuraxial block placement is:
Answer: 12 hours
ASRA guidelines recommend waiting at least 12 hours after the last prophylactic dose of LMWH before performing neuraxial anesthesia to minimize the risk of epidural hematoma.
The ASA ethical guideline on informed consent specifies that disclosure should include which of the following?
Answer: Material risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed anesthetic
Ethical informed consent requires disclosure of material risks (those a reasonable patient would consider significant), expected benefits, and available alternatives to the proposed anesthetic plan.