CAA CAA Equipment & Technology in Anesthesia 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which monitoring modality provides a continuous waveform that is considered the GOLD STANDARD for confirming endotracheal tube placement in the airway?
- Pulse oximetry
- End-tidal CO2 capnography (Correct answer)
- Chest auscultation
- Chest X-ray
Correct answer: End-tidal CO2 capnography
Continuous capnography showing a persistent CO2 waveform is the gold standard for confirming correct endotracheal intubation, as it detects esophageal intubation immediately.
Question 2: A train-of-four (TOF) ratio of 0.9 or greater indicates:
- Deep neuromuscular blockade
- Adequate recovery of neuromuscular function for extubation (Correct answer)
- Moderate blockade requiring reversal
- Complete paralysis
Correct answer: Adequate recovery of neuromuscular function for extubation
A TOF ratio ≥0.9 indicates adequate recovery of neuromuscular function and is a criterion for safe extubation without risk of residual paralysis.
Question 3: The bispectral index (BIS) monitor measures what parameter to guide anesthetic depth?
- Cerebral oxygen saturation
- Processed EEG activity correlating with level of consciousness (Correct answer)
- Evoked auditory potentials
- Cerebral perfusion pressure
Correct answer: Processed EEG activity correlating with level of consciousness
BIS analyzes the processed EEG to produce a dimensionless number (0–100) correlating with depth of anesthesia; values of 40–60 indicate general anesthesia.
Question 4: ST-segment analysis on an intraoperative ECG monitor is most useful for detecting:
- Dysrhythmias and conduction abnormalities
- Myocardial ischemia (Correct answer)
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Pulmonary embolism
Correct answer: Myocardial ischemia
ST-segment elevation or depression on continuous ECG monitoring is the primary intraoperative indicator of myocardial ischemia or injury.
Question 5: Which noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) cuff size error would cause a falsely HIGH reading?
- Cuff too wide for the arm
- Cuff too narrow for the arm (Correct answer)
- Cuff placed over clothing
- Cuff placed on the dominant arm
Correct answer: Cuff too narrow for the arm
A cuff that is too narrow relative to arm circumference overestimates blood pressure because higher pressure is needed to occlude arterial flow.
Question 6: Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP/PCWP) measured via a pulmonary artery catheter most accurately reflects:
- Right ventricular preload
- Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (Correct answer)
- Systemic vascular resistance
- Cardiac output directly
Correct answer: Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP)
When the balloon is inflated to occlude the pulmonary artery, PAOP reflects left atrial pressure and approximates LVEDP, indicating left ventricular preload.
CAA CAA Equipment & Technology in Anesthesia 2
Which monitoring modality provides a continuous waveform that is considered the GOLD STANDARD for confirming endotracheal tube placement in the airway?