Risk Management & Mitigation 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 Risk Management & Mitigation flashcards as text
A patient with a known difficult airway is scheduled for general anesthesia. What risk mitigation strategy should be implemented BEFORE induction?
Answer: Establish the airway using awake fiberoptic intubation with appropriate airway equipment available
Awake fiberoptic intubation preserves spontaneous ventilation and allows direct visualization in known difficult airways, and is the standard-of-care first approach.
Which of the following scenarios represents a 'never event' in anesthesia practice?
Answer: Unintended retention of a surgical sponge in a patient
Unintended retention of a foreign object (e.g., surgical sponge) is classified as a 'never event' — a serious, largely preventable patient safety event.
When a patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion on religious grounds, what is the appropriate risk management approach?
Answer: Document the refusal, discuss risks, explore alternatives, and respect the patient's autonomy
Informed refusal must be respected; the CAA should document the discussion, present bloodless alternatives, and honor the patient's autonomous decision.
What is the PRIMARY purpose of debriefing following a critical anesthesia event or simulation exercise?
Answer: To identify what went well and what can be improved to enhance future performance
Debriefing is a structured educational process designed to reinforce good practices and identify opportunities for improvement in team performance and patient safety.
A CAA discovers a medication vial drawn up by another provider is unlabeled. What is the correct action?
Answer: Discard the unlabeled syringe and draw up a new, properly labeled dose
Unlabeled syringes represent a significant medication error risk and must be discarded; a new syringe should be drawn and properly labeled before administration.
Which ASA physical status classification carries the HIGHEST perioperative mortality risk?
Answer: ASA V
ASA V denotes a moribund patient not expected to survive without surgery, representing the highest perioperative mortality risk among elective/emergent classifications.
During a case, the pulse oximeter reads 88% SpO2 despite the patient appearing pink and ETCO2 remaining normal. What should the CAA consider FIRST?
Answer: Check for technical issues with probe placement, nail polish, or motion artifact before treating
A discordant SpO2 reading with normal clinical signs and ETCO2 most likely reflects a technical artifact; probe position, nail polish, and motion should be assessed before clinical intervention.