FANZCA Core Knowledge and Fundamentals 3

Question 1

During one-lung ventilation (OLV), hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is inhibited by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Volatile anaesthetic agents

Answer

Volatile anaesthetic agents directly inhibit HPV in a dose-dependent manner, increasing shunt fraction and worsening hypoxaemia during one-lung ventilation.

Question 2

The Haldane effect describes:

Accepted Answer

Increased CO2 carrying capacity of deoxygenated haemoglobin

Answer

The Haldane effect describes how deoxygenated haemoglobin carries more CO2 than oxygenated haemoglobin, facilitating CO2 uptake in tissues and release in the lungs.

Question 3

A patient with severe COPD is breathing spontaneously. Their hypoxic drive to breathe is supplemented by which receptor type?

Accepted Answer

Peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies

Answer

Peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies (and aortic arch) respond to low PaO2, and in some severe COPD patients who are chronically hypercapnic, this hypoxic drive becomes proportionally more important.

Question 4

Functional residual capacity (FRC) is the lung volume at which:

Accepted Answer

Elastic recoil of the lung equals outward chest wall recoil

Answer

FRC is the resting end-expiratory lung volume where the inward elastic recoil of the lung exactly balances the outward recoil of the chest wall, requiring no active muscle work.

Question 5

Which equation correctly expresses alveolar ventilation (VA)?

Accepted Answer

VA = (tidal volume − dead space) × respiratory rate

Answer

Alveolar ventilation accounts for physiological dead space, so only the portion of tidal volume reaching alveoli (tidal volume minus dead space) contributes to gas exchange, multiplied by respiratory rate.

(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 Core Knowledge and Fundamentals 3