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
Which combination of intraoperative findings is most characteristic of early malignant hyperthermia?
Answer: Rising ETCO2 and increasing core temperature
Malignant hyperthermia causes hypermetabolism leading to a rapid rise in ETCO2 (from excess CO2 production) and increasing core temperature, often before other signs appear.
A train-of-four (TOF) ratio of 0.9 or greater at the adductor pollicis muscle indicates:
Answer: Adequate recovery of neuromuscular function for extubation
A TOF ratio ≥0.9 at the adductor pollicis is the accepted threshold indicating adequate neuromuscular recovery and is considered safe for extubation.
The modified Aldrete scoring system is used in the PACU to assess:
Answer: Patient readiness for discharge from the PACU
The modified Aldrete score evaluates activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation to determine when a patient is safe to leave the PACU.
Which monitoring modality provides continuous beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure measurement and allows for repeated arterial blood gas sampling?
Answer: Radial arterial line (intra-arterial catheter)
An intra-arterial catheter (arterial line) provides continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring and convenient access for serial arterial blood gas analysis.
Which immediate postoperative complication is most frequently encountered in the PACU?
Answer: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
PONV is the most common postoperative complication, occurring in up to 30% of all surgical patients and up to 80% in high-risk patients, significantly impacting recovery.
The Apfel score is a clinical tool used to predict the risk of:
Answer: Postoperative pulmonary complications
The Apfel score assigns one point each for female sex, non-smoking status, history of PONV or motion sickness, and postoperative opioid use to stratify PONV risk.
Unintentional intraoperative hypothermia (core temperature <36°C) is associated with which perioperative complication?
Answer: Impaired drug metabolism and increased coagulopathy
Hypothermia slows hepatic and plasma enzyme activity, prolonging drug effects, and impairs platelet function and coagulation cascade enzymes, increasing bleeding risk.