CAA Anesthesia Equipment & Technology Flashcards

Which FDA-mandated checkout step requires occluding the patient port and confirming no pressure loss on the breathing system?

Answer: Low-pressure system leak test

The low-pressure system leak test checks the integrity of the circuit from the flowmeters to the common gas outlet by occluding the patient port and squeezing the reservoir bag.

The desflurane Tec 6 vaporizer requires an external power source primarily because:

Answer: Desflurane has an extremely low boiling point requiring active heating to 39°C

Desflurane's boiling point is 22.8°C (near room temperature), so the Tec 6 electrically heats and pressurizes the agent to deliver accurate, consistent concentrations.

Which anesthesia ventilator mode delivers a set tidal volume regardless of changes in lung compliance?

Answer: Volume-controlled ventilation (VCV)

Volume-controlled ventilation delivers a preset tidal volume with each breath; airway pressure varies according to lung compliance and resistance.

In a Mapleson D (Bain) circuit, adequate CO2 elimination during spontaneous ventilation requires fresh gas flow of approximately:

Answer: 200–300 mL/kg/min

To prevent CO2 rebreathing during spontaneous ventilation with a Bain (Mapleson D) circuit, fresh gas flow of approximately 200–300 mL/kg/min (roughly 2–3× minute ventilation) is required.

The adjustable pressure-limiting (APL) valve on an anesthesia circuit is used to:

Answer: Control maximum circuit pressure during manual or spontaneous ventilation

The APL valve vents excess gas to the scavenging system and limits maximum breathing circuit pressure during manual bagging or spontaneous ventilation.

Mainstream capnography differs from sidestream capnography in that mainstream analyzers:

Answer: Place the measurement sensor directly in the airway at the patient connection

Mainstream capnography places the infrared sensor directly at the airway connector, measuring CO2 in real time without sample aspiration, reducing response time.