Anesthesia & Surgical Positioning Flashcards

Which local anesthetic has the longest duration of action and is commonly used for spinal and epidural blocks?

Answer: Bupivacaine

Bupivacaine is an amide local anesthetic with a long duration of action (3–10 hours), making it preferred for prolonged regional and neuraxial blocks.

Epinephrine is added to local anesthetic solutions primarily to:

Answer: Prolong duration by causing local vasoconstriction

Epinephrine causes vasoconstriction at the injection site, slowing systemic absorption and prolonging the anesthetic effect.

Capnography (end-tidal CO2 monitoring) is primarily used intraoperatively to confirm:

Answer: Correct endotracheal tube placement and ventilation adequacy

A consistent CO2 waveform on capnography confirms the endotracheal tube is in the trachea and that ventilation is effective.

Which reversal agent is used to antagonize non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents at the end of surgery?

Answer: Neostigmine

Neostigmine inhibits acetylcholinesterase, increasing acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction to competitively overcome non-depolarizing blockade.

A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is best classified as:

Answer: A supraglottic airway device that sits above the larynx

The LMA is a supraglottic airway that creates a seal around the laryngeal inlet without passing through the vocal cords.

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) is most appropriately selected when:

Answer: The patient needs sedation and analgesia while remaining responsive

MAC provides sedation, analgesia, and anxiolysis for procedures where the patient should be able to follow commands and maintain their own airway.

Which volatile inhalation anesthetic is commonly associated with the least airway irritation and is preferred for inhalation induction in pediatric patients?

Answer: Sevoflurane

Sevoflurane has a non-pungent odor and minimal airway irritation, making it the agent of choice for inhalation induction in children.