Practice Test Geeks(ABA) ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Board Certification Practice Test
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Fundamentals & Core Concepts Flashcards

7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Fundamentals & Core Concepts flashcards as text

  1. The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of an inhalational anesthetic is DECREASED by:

    Answer: Hypothermia and opioid premedication

    Hypothermia, opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, advanced age, and acute alcohol intoxication all decrease MAC requirements.

  2. Which volatile anesthetic is MOST associated with nephrotoxicity due to inorganic fluoride production?

    Answer: Sevoflurane

    Sevoflurane undergoes the greatest degree of biodegradation among modern volatile anesthetics, producing inorganic fluoride that can cause renal tubular dysfunction at very high exposures.

  3. In the context of anesthetic pharmacology, 'context-sensitive half-time' refers to:

    Answer: The time for plasma concentration to decrease 50% after stopping an infusion of a given duration

    Context-sensitive half-time accounts for drug redistribution from peripheral compartments back to plasma after stopping an infusion, and varies with infusion duration.

  4. The pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is INCREASED by which condition?

    Answer: Hypoxia and hypercapnia

    Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and hypercapnia increase PVR by causing pulmonary arterial smooth muscle constriction.

  5. Which statement about succinylcholine is CORRECT?

    Answer: It causes fasciculations followed by flaccid paralysis

    Succinylcholine depolarizes the motor end plate causing fasciculations, then produces flaccid paralysis due to phase I blockade as the end plate remains depolarized.

  6. Which monitoring parameter most directly reflects cerebral oxygenation during carotid endarterectomy?

    Answer: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or regional cerebral oximetry

    Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measures regional cerebral oxygen saturation non-invasively by detecting the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin in brain tissue.

  7. Dead space ventilation (VD/VT) is INCREASED by which of the following?

    Answer: Pulmonary embolism and low cardiac output

    Pulmonary embolism obstructs blood flow to ventilated alveoli, creating alveolar dead space; low cardiac output similarly reduces perfusion relative to ventilation.