Certified Surgical Technologist Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia 2

Question 1

Which reversal agent is used to antagonize the effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents?

Accepted Answer

Neostigmine

Answer

Neostigmine is an anticholinesterase agent that reverses non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockade by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

Question 2

A patient undergoing general anesthesia develops sudden hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, and tachycardia. Which drug is the primary treatment?

Accepted Answer

Dantrolene

Answer

Dantrolene sodium is the specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia, acting by inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Question 3

Which local anesthetic has the longest duration of action and is commonly used for postoperative pain blocks?

Accepted Answer

Bupivacaine

Answer

Bupivacaine is an amide-type local anesthetic with a long duration of action (4–12 hours), making it ideal for postoperative nerve blocks.

Question 4

Which opioid analgesic is most commonly administered intraoperatively as a continuous infusion due to its rapid onset and titrability?

Accepted Answer

Remifentanil

Answer

Remifentanil has an ultra-short half-life due to ester hydrolysis, making it ideal for intraoperative infusion with rapid offset upon discontinuation.

Question 5

The scrub technologist is preparing heparin for a vascular procedure. What is the antidote if heparin-induced bleeding occurs?

Accepted Answer

Protamine sulfate

Answer

Protamine sulfate neutralizes heparin by forming a stable ion pair complex, reversing its anticoagulant effect.

Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test

Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test

Certified Surgical Technologist Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia 2