Practice Test Geeks(FANZCA) Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Practice Test
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Core Knowledge and Fundamentals Flashcards

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

Read the first 7 Core Knowledge and Fundamentals flashcards as text

  1. A spinal anaesthetic is administered at the L3-L4 level with hyperbaric bupivacaine for a lower limb procedure. The 'baricity' of hyperbaric solutions refers to:

    Answer: The density of the solution relative to CSF

    Baricity is the ratio of the solution's density to CSF density at 37°C; hyperbaric solutions (>1.0) sink in CSF due to gravity, allowing block height to be influenced by patient positioning.

  2. Total spinal anaesthesia is a recognised complication of epidural anaesthesia. Its most immediate life-threatening consequence is:

    Answer: Apnoea and cardiovascular collapse

    Total spinal block causes phrenic nerve paralysis (C3-C5) leading to apnoea, combined with sympathetic blockade causing cardiovascular collapse — both requiring immediate airway management and haemodynamic support.

  3. In the context of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, the 'Sign In' phase occurs:

    Answer: Before induction of anaesthesia

    The Sign In phase is conducted before induction of anaesthesia and includes confirming patient identity, site, consent, anaesthesia machine check, pulse oximetry, known allergies, and aspiration/airway risk.

  4. The bispectral index (BIS) monitors depth of anaesthesia by analysing:

    Answer: Frontal EEG signal using proprietary algorithm

    BIS processes the frontal EEG using a proprietary algorithm derived from multiple EEG parameters to produce a dimensionless number (0-100) correlating with depth of hypnosis.

  5. Malignant hyperthermia (MH) crisis is triggered by volatile agents and succinylcholine through which primary mechanism?

    Answer: Uncontrolled calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via mutated RYR1 channels

    MH is caused predominantly by mutations in the RYR1 gene encoding ryanodine receptor-1; triggering agents cause sustained, uncontrolled Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum leading to rigidity and hypermetabolism.

  6. Dantrolene treats malignant hyperthermia by:

    Answer: Inhibiting ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium release

    Dantrolene directly inhibits the RYR1 ryanodine receptor, reducing calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and terminating the hypermetabolic crisis.

  7. Regarding perioperative anaphylaxis, which statement is correct regarding the management priority after stopping the triggering agent?

    Answer: Give intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine) promptly

    Intramuscular adrenaline into the anterolateral thigh is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis; it addresses bronchoconstriction, vasodilation, and cardiovascular collapse simultaneously, and should not be delayed for investigations.