GAMSAT Clinical Procedures and Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient undergoes arterial blood gas sampling from the radial artery. Which test should be performed prior to cannulation to assess collateral circulation?
- Allen's test (Correct answer)
- Trendelenburg test
- Adson's test
- Buerger's test
Correct answer: Allen's test
Allen's test assesses ulnar artery collateral flow to the hand before radial artery cannulation to reduce the risk of hand ischemia if the radial artery is damaged.
Question 2: When performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an adult, what is the correct chest compression depth according to current guidelines?
- 1–2 cm
- 2–3 cm
- 5–6 cm (Correct answer)
- 7–8 cm
Correct answer: 5–6 cm
Current resuscitation guidelines recommend chest compression depth of 5–6 cm in adults to generate adequate cardiac output without causing excessive rib fractures.
Question 3: During a surgical scrub, how long should the initial hand and forearm wash be performed before a first case of the day?
- 1 minute
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10 minutes
Correct answer: 5 minutes
A 5-minute scrub is recommended before the first surgical case of the day to adequately reduce microbial counts on the hands and forearms.
Question 4: A patient with suspected cervical spine injury is brought to the emergency department. Which airway management technique is preferred?
- Hyperextension neck tilt with jaw thrust
- In-line manual stabilization with RSI (Correct answer)
- Nasopharyngeal airway insertion only
- Blind nasotracheal intubation
Correct answer: In-line manual stabilization with RSI
Manual in-line stabilization with rapid sequence intubation (RSI) maintains spinal alignment while securing a definitive airway in trauma patients.
Question 5: Which Sellick maneuver step is applied during rapid sequence intubation and what is its primary purpose?
- Cricoid pressure to prevent regurgitation (Correct answer)
- Thyroid cartilage pressure to improve laryngoscopic view
- Hyoid elevation to open the epiglottis
- Mandibular thrust to displace the tongue
Correct answer: Cricoid pressure to prevent regurgitation
Cricoid pressure (Sellick maneuver) compresses the esophagus against the vertebral body to reduce the risk of passive regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration during intubation.
Question 6: When inserting a urinary catheter in a male patient, encountering resistance at the external sphincter is best managed by:
- Applying forceful pressure to advance the catheter
- Asking the patient to breathe deeply and bear down gently (Correct answer)
- Rotating the catheter 180 degrees and pushing harder
- Immediately switching to a suprapubic catheter
Correct answer: Asking the patient to breathe deeply and bear down gently
Resistance at the external sphincter is overcome by asking the patient to take a deep breath and bear down, which relaxes the voluntary sphincter and allows catheter passage.
Question 7: Following a failed defibrillation attempt for ventricular fibrillation, what is the recommended next step according to advanced life support protocols?
- Immediately administer adrenaline (epinephrine)
- Resume CPR for 2 minutes before reassessing rhythm (Correct answer)
- Administer amiodarone and then reassess
- Deliver a second shock immediately
Correct answer: Resume CPR for 2 minutes before reassessing rhythm
After each defibrillation attempt, CPR should be resumed immediately for 2 minutes before rhythm reassessment, as defibrillation may cause a brief period of asystole.
GAMSAT Clinical Procedures and Protocols 3
A patient undergoes arterial blood gas sampling from the radial artery.
Which test should be performed prior to cannulation to assess collateral circulation?