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Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents 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 Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents flashcards as text

  1. Which opioid is contraindicated in patients taking MAO inhibitors due to risk of serotonin syndrome?

    Answer: Meperidine

    Meperidine inhibits serotonin reuptake; combined with MAOIs this can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome with hyperthermia, rigidity, and hemodynamic instability.

  2. The MAC of a volatile anesthetic is defined as the alveolar concentration that prevents movement in response to surgical incision in what percentage of patients?

    Answer: 50%

    MAC (Minimum Alveolar Concentration) is the ED50 — the alveolar concentration preventing movement to incision in 50% of patients.

  3. Etomidate is favored for induction in hemodynamically unstable patients primarily because it:

    Answer: Has minimal effect on cardiovascular function

    Etomidate causes minimal changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output, making it ideal for cardiovascularly compromised patients.

  4. Which local anesthetic class (ester vs amide) is associated with allergic reactions due to the para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) metabolite?

    Answer: Esters only

    Ester local anesthetics are metabolized to PABA, which can cause true allergic reactions; amide local anesthetics rarely cause true allergy.

  5. At which minimum train-of-four (TOF) ratio is it considered safe to extubate a patient regarding neuromuscular recovery?

    Answer: TOF ratio ≥ 0.9

    A TOF ratio ≥ 0.9 (ideally ≥ 0.9-1.0) is required to ensure adequate upper airway protective reflexes and respiratory muscle strength for safe extubation.

  6. Nitrous oxide is avoided in patients with bowel obstruction because it:

    Answer: Diffuses into gas-filled spaces faster than nitrogen exits

    Nitrous oxide is 34 times more soluble than nitrogen in blood, so it enters closed gas spaces faster than nitrogen exits, expanding bowel gas volume.

  7. Which factor most significantly reduces the MAC of volatile anesthetics?

    Answer: Increasing age

    MAC decreases approximately 6% per decade of life after age 40, making elderly patients require significantly lower anesthetic concentrations.