FANZCA Safety and Compliance 2

Question 1

Under ANZCA professional standards, which of the following best describes the minimum monitoring requirement during general anaesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Continuous ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, and non-invasive blood pressure are mandatory

Answer

Pulse oximetry alone is sufficient for short procedures

Answer

Capnography is optional if end-tidal CO2 is visually estimated

Answer

Blood pressure measurement every 10 minutes is acceptable

Question 2

A patient is scheduled for elective surgery but refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons. The most appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Document refusal, explore alternatives, and proceed only if surgically safe without transfusion

Answer

Cancel the surgery as it is unsafe to proceed

Answer

Obtain a court order to override the refusal

Answer

Administer blood intraoperatively without telling the patient

Question 3

Which ANZCA professional document specifically addresses the pre-anaesthesia consultation?

Accepted Answer

PS07

Answer

PS04

Answer

PS15

Answer

PS28

Question 4

When checking an anaesthetic machine before use, the correct sequence for a high-pressure circuit leak test is to:

Accepted Answer

Close the APL valve, occlude the Y-piece, fill the breathing circuit to 30 cmH2O, and observe pressure stability

Answer

Pressurise with oxygen to 30 cmH2O and observe for pressure drop over 10 seconds

Answer

Turn all flowmeters to maximum and check for audible leaks

Answer

Connect a capnograph and observe for CO2 accumulation

Question 5

An anaesthetist discovers a critical defect in anaesthetic equipment mid-case. Which action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Immediately switch to backup equipment, ensure patient safety, then report per hospital incident protocol

Answer

Continue the case and report the defect postoperatively

Answer

Tag the equipment out of service but continue using it if no backup is available

Answer

Inform the surgeon and allow them to decide whether to continue

Question 6

Regarding the management of latex allergy in the operating theatre, which statement is correct?

Accepted Answer

Latex-allergic patients should be scheduled first on the list in a latex-safe environment

Answer

Latex allergy only causes contact dermatitis and is not an anaesthetic risk

Answer

Latex-free gloves alone are sufficient to protect a latex-allergic patient

Answer

Adrenaline is not needed in the theatre for latex allergy management

Question 7

Which of the following is a key principle of the ANZCA Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG) reporting framework?

Accepted Answer

Anonymous reporting promotes a just culture and improves system-level safety

Answer

Reports are used for medico-legal disciplinary action

Answer

Only adverse events resulting in patient death must be reported

Answer

Reporting is voluntary and has no structured review process