Monitoring Equipment & Technology Flashcards
7 cards from real BCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Monitoring Equipment & Technology flashcards as text
What is the primary advantage of using a heated humidifier with a heat-moisture exchanger (HME) in the anesthesia circuit?
Answer: Prevents airway desiccation and preserves mucociliary function
An HME captures heat and moisture from exhaled gas and returns it during inspiration, preventing airway desiccation and maintaining mucociliary function.
In a closed-loop anesthesia delivery system, which parameter is most commonly used as the feedback signal to titrate volatile anesthetic concentration?
Answer: Bispectral Index (BIS)
Closed-loop anesthesia systems most commonly use the BIS as the feedback signal to automatically adjust anesthetic delivery to maintain a target depth.
What is the correct interpretation of a dampened arterial line waveform?
Answer: Air bubble, clot, or kink in the arterial line system
A dampened waveform results from air bubbles, clot formation, kinking, or a loose connection that dampens pressure transmission to the transducer.
Which temperature monitoring site most accurately reflects core body temperature during anesthesia?
Answer: Nasopharynx or esophagus
The nasopharynx and lower esophagus reflect core temperature accurately because they are in close proximity to central blood flow and the heart.
Volatile anesthetic agent analyzers in the breathing circuit work primarily on which physical principle?
Answer: Infrared light absorption
Most in-circuit agent analyzers use infrared absorption spectroscopy, as volatile anesthetics absorb infrared light at characteristic wavelengths.
Which finding on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) would suggest severe left ventricular dysfunction intraoperatively?
Answer: Left ventricular end-systolic area that is markedly enlarged
A markedly enlarged left ventricular end-systolic area indicates poor ejection, reflecting severely reduced LV function intraoperatively.
Which safety feature prevents delivery of a hypoxic gas mixture from an anesthesia machine?
Answer: Oxygen ratio monitor controller (proportioning system)
The oxygen ratio monitor controller (proportioning system) mechanically or electronically links nitrous oxide and oxygen flows to ensure a minimum oxygen concentration (typically ≥25%).