Practice Test Geeks(CAA) Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Practice Test
← All CAA Flashcard Decks

CAA Regional & Neuraxial Anesthesia Flashcards

6 cards from real CAA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 CAA Regional & Neuraxial Anesthesia flashcards as text

  1. The epidural space is most accurately identified using the loss-of-resistance (LOR) technique. What substance should be used for LOR to minimize risk of air embolism?

    Answer: Saline (preservative-free)

    Preservative-free saline is the preferred medium for LOR because air can cause pneumocephalus, patchy blocks, or venous air embolism if injected intravascularly.

  2. An epidural test dose typically contains epinephrine to detect:

    Answer: Intravascular injection via a heart rate increase of ≥20 bpm within 60 seconds

    Intravascular injection of the epinephrine marker (typically 15 mcg) causes a transient tachycardia within 30–60 seconds, indicating catheter misplacement into a vein.

  3. Epidural analgesia for labor pain is typically targeted to cover which dermatomal levels?

    Answer: T10–L1 (first stage) expanding to S2–S4 (second stage)

    First-stage labor pain is visceral (T10–L1); as delivery approaches, the block is extended caudally to cover S2–S4 for second-stage somatic perineal pain.

  4. Which complication is most commonly associated with epidural catheter placement?

    Answer: Unintentional dural puncture (wet tap)

    Unintentional dural puncture occurs in approximately 0.5–2% of epidural placements and is the most common serious complication, often leading to PDPH.

  5. Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) following epidural injection most commonly presents first as:

    Answer: Central nervous system excitation (metallic taste, tinnitus, perioral numbness, seizures)

    CNS excitatory signs (circumoral numbness, tinnitus, metallic taste, agitation, then seizures) typically precede cardiovascular collapse in LAST.

  6. The first-line treatment for local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) with cardiovascular collapse is:

    Answer: 20% lipid emulsion (Intralipid) 1.5 mL/kg IV bolus

    20% lipid emulsion acts as a 'lipid sink,' sequestering the lipophilic local anesthetic from cardiac tissue and is the specific antidote for LAST.