ABSITE ANESTHESIA EXAM BANK 2026/2027 | ACCURATE
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES EACH | CURRENTLY TESTING AND FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS|CHAPTER 16 ANESTHESIA EXAM EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Over the past two decades, the routine use of invasive and noninvasive
monitoring devices has been instituted for the administration of most anesthetics.
Which of the following statements is true concerning monitoring of a surgical
patient?
A. Pulmonary arterial catheter monitoring is generally reserved for critically ill
patients with serious left ventricular dysfunction
B. Intermittent, noninvasive systemic blood pressure monitoring with an
oscillometric blood pressure cuff has essentially replaced clinical measurement by
means of auscultation
C. Monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide reflects changes in cardiac output
D. all of the above
E. A pulse oximeter reading reflects changes in the partial pressure of oxygen in
arterial blood only below 80 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- all of the above
Correct.
Pulse oximetry continuously, noninvasively, and inexpensively provides arterial
hemoglobin saturation and peripheral pulse values. It must be remembered,
,however, that a pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation, not arterial oxygen
tension. The partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood must decrease to less
than 80 mm Hg before any significant change in oxygen saturation occurs. End-
tidal carbon dioxide monitoring reflects metabolism (production of carbon
dioxide), circulation (blood flow to the lungs), and ventilation (respiratory rate
in an intact ventilatory circuit). It can be used as a surveillance monitor for both
the respiratory circuit and the cardiovascular system. Any acute decrease in
cardiac output decreases output to the lung and increases alveolar dead space,
causing an acute decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide. Hemodynamic stability
can be monitored with a variety of methods, the most basic of which is
measurement of systemic arterial blood pressure. Intermittent, noninvasive
measurement of systemic blood pressure with an oscillometric blood pressure
cuff has become the standard in the operating room. The accuracy equals that
of clinical measurement by means of auscultation. When tighter control is
required for patients with severe hypertension or heart disease or for patients
who may have acute blood loss, invasive arterial monitoring is used. For
patients with left ventricular dysfunction who are undergoing extended surgical
procedures with marked fluid shifts and possible blood loss, central venous
pressure monitoring frequently is used. Pulmonary arterial catheter monitoring
is reserved for more critically ill patients and for those with severe left
ventricular dysfunction.
Patient-controlled analgesia is a commonly used technique for postoperative
analgesia. Which of the following statements is true concerning the use of
patient-controlled analgesia?
A. Satisfactory pain relief is provided with administration of low narcotic doses
B. The technique cannot be used in the care of semiconscious or uncooperative
patients
,C. All of the above
D. Patient-controlled analgesia is as safe as conventional intramuscular
administration of pain medication
E. Excessive administration of narcotic medication can be limited with a lockout
duration that controls administration of the narcotic - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- All
of the above
Correct.
The technique of patient-controlled analgesia is based on evidence that small
intravenous bolus doses of narcotics on demand can improve pain relief at the
same or less total narcotic dose. The system requires some degree of
sophistication and a conscious patient who has been instructed in the
technique. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patient-controlled
analgesia is as safe as conventional intramuscular medication. The patient can
be restricted from receiving excessive agents by means of setting a lockout
interval duration of several minutes during which a dose of narcotic cannot be
successfully administered. The total hourly dose also can be limited.
The maximum safe dose of local anesthetic administered subcutaneously in a 70-
kg man is:
A. 40 to 50 mL of 1% bupivacaine (Marcaine)
B. 10 to 20 mL of 1% lidocaine
C. 40 to 50 mL of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine
, D. 40 to 50 mL of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine
E. 40 to 50 mL of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- 40 to 50
mL of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine
Correct.
Avoiding exceeding the maximum safe dose of local anesthesia is critically
important to avoid systemic toxicity. If safe doses of local anesthesia are
exceeded, complications may include headache, tinnitus, dizziness, confusion,
muscle twitching, and finally, convulsions. Local anesthetics are combined with
epinephrine to decrease the absorption of anesthesia and therefore to enhance
the period over which anesthesia is effective. The generally accepted maximum
safe dose for lidocaine combined with epinephrine is 6 to 7 mg/kg. Without
epinephrine, the maximum safe dose is 4 to 5 mg/kg. For a 70-kg person, the
maximum safe volumes would therefore be approximately 40 to 50 mL of 1%
lidocaine with epinephrine or 30 to 35 mL without epinephrine. The maximum
safe dose for bupivacaine is approximately half of this. Treatment of overdose
includes airway maintenance, oxygen, and benzodiazepines.
During a minor surgical procedure performed with intravenous sedation, the
patient reports pain when the surgical incision is extended. What should be done?
A. None of the above
B. Infiltrate the incision site with 1% lidocaine
C. Slowly titrate in a combination of fentanyl and midazolam
D. Titrate a small amount of narcotic, such as 50µg fentanyl
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES EACH | CURRENTLY TESTING AND FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS|CHAPTER 16 ANESTHESIA EXAM EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Over the past two decades, the routine use of invasive and noninvasive
monitoring devices has been instituted for the administration of most anesthetics.
Which of the following statements is true concerning monitoring of a surgical
patient?
A. Pulmonary arterial catheter monitoring is generally reserved for critically ill
patients with serious left ventricular dysfunction
B. Intermittent, noninvasive systemic blood pressure monitoring with an
oscillometric blood pressure cuff has essentially replaced clinical measurement by
means of auscultation
C. Monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide reflects changes in cardiac output
D. all of the above
E. A pulse oximeter reading reflects changes in the partial pressure of oxygen in
arterial blood only below 80 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- all of the above
Correct.
Pulse oximetry continuously, noninvasively, and inexpensively provides arterial
hemoglobin saturation and peripheral pulse values. It must be remembered,
,however, that a pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation, not arterial oxygen
tension. The partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood must decrease to less
than 80 mm Hg before any significant change in oxygen saturation occurs. End-
tidal carbon dioxide monitoring reflects metabolism (production of carbon
dioxide), circulation (blood flow to the lungs), and ventilation (respiratory rate
in an intact ventilatory circuit). It can be used as a surveillance monitor for both
the respiratory circuit and the cardiovascular system. Any acute decrease in
cardiac output decreases output to the lung and increases alveolar dead space,
causing an acute decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide. Hemodynamic stability
can be monitored with a variety of methods, the most basic of which is
measurement of systemic arterial blood pressure. Intermittent, noninvasive
measurement of systemic blood pressure with an oscillometric blood pressure
cuff has become the standard in the operating room. The accuracy equals that
of clinical measurement by means of auscultation. When tighter control is
required for patients with severe hypertension or heart disease or for patients
who may have acute blood loss, invasive arterial monitoring is used. For
patients with left ventricular dysfunction who are undergoing extended surgical
procedures with marked fluid shifts and possible blood loss, central venous
pressure monitoring frequently is used. Pulmonary arterial catheter monitoring
is reserved for more critically ill patients and for those with severe left
ventricular dysfunction.
Patient-controlled analgesia is a commonly used technique for postoperative
analgesia. Which of the following statements is true concerning the use of
patient-controlled analgesia?
A. Satisfactory pain relief is provided with administration of low narcotic doses
B. The technique cannot be used in the care of semiconscious or uncooperative
patients
,C. All of the above
D. Patient-controlled analgesia is as safe as conventional intramuscular
administration of pain medication
E. Excessive administration of narcotic medication can be limited with a lockout
duration that controls administration of the narcotic - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- All
of the above
Correct.
The technique of patient-controlled analgesia is based on evidence that small
intravenous bolus doses of narcotics on demand can improve pain relief at the
same or less total narcotic dose. The system requires some degree of
sophistication and a conscious patient who has been instructed in the
technique. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patient-controlled
analgesia is as safe as conventional intramuscular medication. The patient can
be restricted from receiving excessive agents by means of setting a lockout
interval duration of several minutes during which a dose of narcotic cannot be
successfully administered. The total hourly dose also can be limited.
The maximum safe dose of local anesthetic administered subcutaneously in a 70-
kg man is:
A. 40 to 50 mL of 1% bupivacaine (Marcaine)
B. 10 to 20 mL of 1% lidocaine
C. 40 to 50 mL of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine
, D. 40 to 50 mL of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine
E. 40 to 50 mL of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER ✔✔- 40 to 50
mL of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine
Correct.
Avoiding exceeding the maximum safe dose of local anesthesia is critically
important to avoid systemic toxicity. If safe doses of local anesthesia are
exceeded, complications may include headache, tinnitus, dizziness, confusion,
muscle twitching, and finally, convulsions. Local anesthetics are combined with
epinephrine to decrease the absorption of anesthesia and therefore to enhance
the period over which anesthesia is effective. The generally accepted maximum
safe dose for lidocaine combined with epinephrine is 6 to 7 mg/kg. Without
epinephrine, the maximum safe dose is 4 to 5 mg/kg. For a 70-kg person, the
maximum safe volumes would therefore be approximately 40 to 50 mL of 1%
lidocaine with epinephrine or 30 to 35 mL without epinephrine. The maximum
safe dose for bupivacaine is approximately half of this. Treatment of overdose
includes airway maintenance, oxygen, and benzodiazepines.
During a minor surgical procedure performed with intravenous sedation, the
patient reports pain when the surgical incision is extended. What should be done?
A. None of the above
B. Infiltrate the incision site with 1% lidocaine
C. Slowly titrate in a combination of fentanyl and midazolam
D. Titrate a small amount of narcotic, such as 50µg fentanyl
