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Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia Flashcards

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

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  1. Which intravenous anesthetic agent is preferred for patients with a history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) due to its antiemetic properties?

    Answer: Propofol

    Propofol has intrinsic antiemetic properties and is associated with lower rates of PONV compared to other induction agents and volatile anesthetics.

  2. Ondansetron is frequently used perioperatively to prevent PONV. Its mechanism of action involves blocking which receptor?

    Answer: Serotonin 5-HT3

    Ondansetron is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist that blocks serotonin-mediated signals in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and GI tract.

  3. The CSFA notices the surgical field is oozing excessively. The surgeon requests topical thrombin. Which statement about topical thrombin is CORRECT?

    Answer: It converts fibrinogen to fibrin at the surgical site

    Topical thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin locally, promoting clot formation at the site of bleeding; it must never be injected intravascularly.

  4. Which benzodiazepine is most commonly used for preoperative anxiolysis and procedural sedation due to its short duration and amnestic properties?

    Answer: Midazolam

    Midazolam is preferred for perioperative use because of its short half-life, reliable anxiolysis, and potent anterograde amnesia.

  5. A patient with known renal failure requires a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker. Which agent is SAFEST because it undergoes Hofmann elimination (non-organ-dependent degradation)?

    Answer: Cisatracurium

    Cisatracurium undergoes Hofmann elimination (spontaneous degradation at physiological pH and temperature), making it safe in renal or hepatic failure.

  6. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is used intraoperatively primarily to:

    Answer: Inhibit fibrinolysis and reduce surgical blood loss

    Tranexamic acid inhibits fibrinolysis by blocking plasminogen activation, thereby stabilizing clots and reducing intraoperative blood loss.

  7. Which drug is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose or excessive sedation?

    Answer: Flumazenil

    Flumazenil is a competitive benzodiazepine receptor antagonist that rapidly reverses sedation, amnesia, and respiratory depression caused by benzodiazepines.