CFA CFA Postoperative Care & Complications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first priority assessment when a patient arrives in the PACU?
- Pain level
- Airway patency (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure
- Temperature
Correct answer: Airway patency
Airway patency is always the primary PACU assessment because residual anesthesia can cause airway obstruction and respiratory compromise.
Question 2: What does the Aldrete score assess in the PACU?
- Surgical pain intensity
- Readiness for PACU discharge (Correct answer)
- Intraoperative fluid balance
- Long-term surgical outcomes
Correct answer: Readiness for PACU discharge
The Aldrete score evaluates activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation to determine when a patient is ready to be discharged from the PACU.
Question 3: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in the immediate postoperative period?
- Laryngospasm
- Bronchospasm
- Tongue relaxation from residual anesthesia (Correct answer)
- Aspiration of secretions
Correct answer: Tongue relaxation from residual anesthesia
Tongue relaxation due to residual anesthetic effects is the most common cause of postoperative airway obstruction and is easily managed with airway positioning or an oral airway.
Question 4: What core temperature defines perioperative hypothermia?
- Below 37°C (98.6°F)
- Below 36°C (96.8°F) (Correct answer)
- Below 35°C (95°F)
- Below 34°C (93.2°F)
Correct answer: Below 36°C (96.8°F)
Perioperative hypothermia is defined as a core temperature below 36°C and is associated with increased bleeding risk, wound infection, and cardiac events.
Question 5: Which drug is administered to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression in the PACU?
- Flumazenil
- Naloxone (Narcan) (Correct answer)
- Neostigmine
- Atropine
Correct answer: Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and sedation by competitively blocking opioid receptors.
Question 6: What is the standard SpO2 target for most postoperative patients in the PACU?
- ≥90%
- ≥92%
- ≥95% (Correct answer)
- 100%
Correct answer: ≥95%
A SpO2 of ≥95% is the standard postoperative oxygenation target to ensure adequate tissue perfusion and detect early respiratory compromise.
CFA CFA Postoperative Care & Complications 1
What is the first priority assessment when a patient arrives in the PACU?