Best Practices & Standard Procedures Flashcards

Per ASA best practices, which action should be taken FIRST when unexpected intraoperative hypotension occurs?

Answer: Assess the patient, verify monitoring, and identify the cause

Systematic assessment of the patient and identification of the underlying cause (hypovolemia, cardiac dysfunction, vasodilation, etc.) should precede empiric treatment of intraoperative hypotension.

The ASA recommends that a qualified anesthesia provider be physically present in the operating room throughout which type of anesthetic?

Answer: All general, regional, and monitored anesthesia care

ASA Standard I requires a qualified anesthesia provider to be present in the room throughout the conduct of all general anesthetics, regional anesthetics, and monitored anesthesia care.

Which of the following is a component of the 'Universal Protocol' established by The Joint Commission to prevent wrong-site surgery?

Answer: Surgical site marking before the procedure

The Universal Protocol's three elements are pre-procedure verification, surgical site marking, and a 'time-out' immediately before the procedure; site marking is a core component.

According to ASA guidelines on regional anesthesia, which condition most increases the risk of epidural hematoma formation?

Answer: Therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin

Therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparin significantly elevates bleeding risk in the epidural space, requiring specific timing intervals per ASRA guidelines before neuraxial procedures.

The ASA practice advisory on preanesthesia evaluation recommends that the history and physical examination be completed:

Answer: Within a timeframe appropriate to the patient's condition and procedure

The ASA advisory specifies that the timing of the preanesthesia evaluation should be individualized based on patient health status, procedure complexity, and setting rather than a fixed interval.

Which ASA standard requires that the breathing circuit be assessed for the ability to deliver adequate oxygen and ventilation before each anesthetic?

Answer: ASA Standard III — Ventilation

ASA Standard III on ventilation requires that the ability to provide adequate ventilation be verified, including assessment of the breathing circuit, before each anesthetic.

According to ASA guidelines, 'monitored anesthesia care' (MAC) differs from general anesthesia primarily because:

Answer: The patient maintains protective airway reflexes and responds purposefully

MAC is characterized by the patient maintaining the ability to respond purposefully to verbal or tactile stimulation and retaining protective airway reflexes, unlike general anesthesia.