Perioperative Care & Patient Monitoring Flashcards
7 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 7 Perioperative Care & Patient Monitoring flashcards as text
According to ASA basic monitoring standards, which of the following must be continuously monitored via capnography during general anesthesia with an endotracheal tube?
Answer: End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2)
ASA standards require continuous capnography (ETCO2) to confirm tracheal intubation and monitor ventilation throughout general anesthesia.
What is the normal range for end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) during controlled mechanical ventilation in a healthy patient?
Answer: 35–45 mmHg
Normal ETCO2 during mechanical ventilation is 35–45 mmHg, reflecting adequate alveolar ventilation and CO2 elimination.
A sudden decrease in ETCO2 to near zero during mechanical ventilation most likely indicates:
Answer: Breathing circuit disconnection or cardiac arrest
A sudden drop in ETCO2 to near zero indicates loss of CO2 delivery to the sensor, most commonly from circuit disconnection or sudden cessation of circulation (cardiac arrest).
Which phase of perioperative care focuses on medical history review, physical examination, and optimization of comorbidities before the planned procedure?
Answer: Preoperative phase
The preoperative phase encompasses patient assessment, risk stratification, and optimization of existing medical conditions prior to surgery.
The Bispectral Index (BIS) monitor primarily provides information about:
Answer: Depth of anesthesia via processed EEG analysis
BIS processes EEG signals into a numerical index (0–100) to provide a quantitative measure of anesthetic depth and help reduce the risk of intraoperative awareness.
Intraoperative awareness under anesthesia is most effectively detected and prevented by monitoring which parameter?
Answer: BIS index or end-tidal volatile anesthetic concentration
Monitoring BIS values (target 40–60) or maintaining minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) values of volatile agents ≥0.7 are the most evidence-based strategies to prevent intraoperative awareness.
To ensure adequate renal perfusion during anesthesia, minimum acceptable urine output should be maintained at:
Answer: 0.5 mL/kg/hr
A urine output of at least 0.5 mL/kg/hr during anesthesia indicates adequate renal perfusion and is the accepted minimum threshold for monitoring intraoperative fluid status.