FANZCA Assessment and Evaluation 2

Question 1

Which scoring system is most appropriate for assessing postoperative pain in a non-verbal adult patient in the ICU?

Accepted Answer

Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS)

Answer

The Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS) uses observable behaviours such as facial expression, upper limb movements, and compliance with ventilation to assess pain in non-verbal ICU patients.

Question 2

When performing a pre-anaesthetic assessment, which feature of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) most increases perioperative risk?

Accepted Answer

Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI) > 30 events/hour

Answer

A high AHI (>30 events/hour) indicates severe OSA and is most directly associated with increased perioperative risk including difficult airway, hypoxia, and cardiovascular complications.

Question 3

A 68-year-old patient is scheduled for elective total hip replacement. Which preoperative assessment tool best predicts postoperative delirium risk?

Accepted Answer

Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) baseline

Answer

Baseline cognitive assessment using tools such as CAM or the Mini-Mental State Examination identifies pre-existing cognitive impairment, which is the strongest independent predictor of postoperative delirium.

Question 4

Which intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring modality is most useful for detecting ischaemia in the spinal cord during descending thoracic aortic surgery?

Accepted Answer

Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs)

Answer

MEPs monitor the integrity of the corticospinal (motor) tract and are more sensitive than SSEPs for detecting anterior spinal cord ischaemia during aortic surgery.

Question 5

A patient undergoing shoulder arthroscopy in the beach-chair position develops sudden bradycardia and hypotension. Which monitor would have provided the earliest warning?

Accepted Answer

Cerebral oximetry (NIRS)

Answer

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) cerebral oximetry can detect cerebral hypoperfusion early in the beach-chair position, often before haemodynamic collapse is apparent on standard monitors.

(FANZCA) Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Practice Test

(FANZCA) Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Practice Test

FANZCA Assessment and Evaluation 2