GKA CPC EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
A morbidly obese male with an unstable cervical fracture and a history of a difficult
intubation (Mallampati class IV and mouth opening <15mm) is scheduled for a C3-4
cervical fusion. Which intubation technique with in-line stabilization is MOST
appropriate?
a. Asleep Direct Laryngoscopy
b. Awake video laryngoscopy
c. Asleep fiberoptic bronchoscopy
d. Awake fiberoptic bronchoscopy - Answers :D - Awake Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy
Which drug is metabolized by plasma cholinesterase?
a. Ropivacaine (Naropin)
b. Lidocaine (xylocaine)
c. Tetracaine
d. Bupivacaine (Marcaine) - Answers :C. Tetracaine
A significant drug interaction may occur between the monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs) and:
a. Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
b. Meperidine (Demerol)
c. Midazolam (versed)
d. Codeine - Answers :B. Meperidine (Demerol)
What is the INITIAL step to take with an endotracheal tube fire?
a. Disconnect the circuit from the patient
b. Put out the flame with a fire extinguisher
c. Place wet cloths over the area
d. Increase the nitrous oxide - Answers :A. Disconnect the circuit from the patient
Anesthetic management of a patient with severe aortic stenosis includes:
a. afterload reduction
b. modest bradycardia
c. adequate preload
d. decreased contractility - Answers :C. Adequate preload
What is the BEST treatment for this ECG abnormality? (prolonged PR interval and
peaked T waves)
a. Magnesium sulfate, 1-2 g
b. Furosemide (Lasix), 10 mg IV
c. Calcium chloride 10%, 10 mL IV
d. Phosphate, 5-16 mg/kg IV - Answers :C. Calcium chloride 10%, 10 mL IV
The tip of a laryngeal mask airway should rest in which airway structure?
a. Trachea
,b. Palatopharyngeal arch
c. Orophyarynx
d. Hypopharynx - Answers :A. Trachea
Which is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandate on safe
injection practices for the operating room?
a. Needles must be recapped prior to disposal
b. Single-dose medication vials may be used for more than 1 patient.
c. Needles and syringes are single-use items
d. Multidose vials may be used for multiple patients if the needle is changed on the
syringe - Answers :C. Needles and syringes are single-use items.
Up to what percentage of receptors may remain blocked with 4 out of 4 twitches on the
neuromuscular blockage monitor?
a. 95
b. 25
c. 55
d. 75 - Answers :D. 75
Which is the MOST reliable measure of renal function?
a. Serum potassium level
b. Blood urea nitrogen level
c. Serum sodium level
d. Creatinine clearance - Answers :d. Creatinine clearance
Which medication should be administered to a patient who is unresponsive and hypoxic
after receiving midazolam (Versed) for a 20-minute gastrointestinal procedure?
a. Naloxone (Narcan)
b. Neostigmine (Prostigmin)
c. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
d. Atropine - Answers :C. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Which device is operational to prevent the simultaneous use of more than one
anesthetic vaporizer?
a. Quick connect
b. Interlock
c. Agent-limiting
d. Variable bypass - Answers :B. Interlock
Airway management with a supraglottic airway is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with:
a. hypothyroidism
b. coronary artery disease
c. asthma
d. symptomatic hiatal hernia - Answers :D - Symptomatic hiatal hernia
,An E-cylinder of oxygen with a service pressure of 1,900 PST contains how many liters
of oxygen?
a. 660
b. 190
c.330
d. 1,590 - Answers :A - 660
Which neuromuscular monitoring technique is appropriate for the evaluation of time to
recovery from a deep blockage with rocuronium (Zemuron)?
a. Double-burst stimulation
b. Train-of-Four stimulation
c. Tetanic stimulation
d. Posttetanic count stimulation - Answers :D - Posttetanic count stimulation
What is responsible for an abrupt decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) to near
zero with the absence of an ETCO2 waveform?
a. Exhausted carbon dioxide absorbent material
b. Malfunction of unidirectional inspiratory valve
c. Loss of suction on the scavenge system
d. Anesthesia circuit disconnection - Answers :D. Anesthesia circuit disconnection
Which muscle relaxant is MOST appropriate in patients with advanced liver disease?
a. Vecuronium (Norcuron)
b. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)
c. Pancuronium (Pavulon)
d. Rocuronium (Zemuron) - Answers :B. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)
During administration of anesthesia to a patient with sickle cell disease, which action
minimizes sickling?
a. Continued hypoventilation
b. Administration of 100% oxygen
c. Restriction of fluids
d. Avoidance of hyperthermia - Answers :B. Administration of 100% oxygen
Which valve on the anesthesia gas machine allows respiratory gas to flow to and from a
patient?
a. Unidirectional
b. Adjustable pressure-limiting
c. Shutoff
d. Needle - Answers :A. Unidirectional
Which is an appropriate intervention with complete loss of oxygen pipeline pressure?
a. Fully open the E-Cylinder
b. Consider mechanical ventilation
c. Push the oxygen flush valve
d. Use a high fresh gas flow of oxygen - Answers :A. Fully open the oxygen E-Cylinder
, The MOST important action to enhance the denitrogentaion of the lungs prior to
induction of anesthesia is:
a. having the patient breathe deeply 3x on room air
b. ensuring a tight circuit mask fit on the patient
c. asking the patient to take a deep breath and cough
d. placing the patient on nasal cannula oxygen at 2L/min preoperatively - Answers :b.
Ensuring a tight circuit mask fit on the patient
Which factor correlates with increased risk for postoperative pulmonary complications?
a. Lower abdominal surgery
b. Monitored anesthesia care
c. Age 70 years or older
d. Controlled asthma - Answers :C. Age 70 years or older
Which risk factor is a major predictor for perioperative cardiovascular risk?
a. Unstable angina
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Compensated congestive heart failure
d. Age older than 80 years - Answers :A. Unstable angina
Which cartilage in the larynx is unpaired?
a. Thyroid
b. Corniculate
c. Cuneiform
d. Arytenoid - Answers :A. Thyroid
What is the recommended INITIAL bolus dosing of a 20% lipid emulsion for suspected
local anesthetic toxicity in mL/kg?
a. 10
b. 1.5
c. 0.25
d. 0.5 - Answers :B. 1.5
A 35-year-old woman arrives to the preoperative area for a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy. She has a history of asthma and osteoarthritis. She has no previous
surgeries noted in her record. Her drug list includes albuterol inhaler (Proventil),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and oral contraceptives. She has taken no medications today
and no laboratory tests have been drawn. During her interview, she reports that she
cannot remember her last menstrual period. Her blood pressure is 135/70 mm Hg, heart
rate is 70/min, respiratory rate is 20/min, and room air SaO2 is 97%.
What preoperative laboratory test is MOST pertinent for this patient?
a. Potassium level
b. Hemoglobin level
c. Urine pregnancy
d. Arterial blood gas - Answers :C. Urine pregnancy
A morbidly obese male with an unstable cervical fracture and a history of a difficult
intubation (Mallampati class IV and mouth opening <15mm) is scheduled for a C3-4
cervical fusion. Which intubation technique with in-line stabilization is MOST
appropriate?
a. Asleep Direct Laryngoscopy
b. Awake video laryngoscopy
c. Asleep fiberoptic bronchoscopy
d. Awake fiberoptic bronchoscopy - Answers :D - Awake Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy
Which drug is metabolized by plasma cholinesterase?
a. Ropivacaine (Naropin)
b. Lidocaine (xylocaine)
c. Tetracaine
d. Bupivacaine (Marcaine) - Answers :C. Tetracaine
A significant drug interaction may occur between the monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOIs) and:
a. Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
b. Meperidine (Demerol)
c. Midazolam (versed)
d. Codeine - Answers :B. Meperidine (Demerol)
What is the INITIAL step to take with an endotracheal tube fire?
a. Disconnect the circuit from the patient
b. Put out the flame with a fire extinguisher
c. Place wet cloths over the area
d. Increase the nitrous oxide - Answers :A. Disconnect the circuit from the patient
Anesthetic management of a patient with severe aortic stenosis includes:
a. afterload reduction
b. modest bradycardia
c. adequate preload
d. decreased contractility - Answers :C. Adequate preload
What is the BEST treatment for this ECG abnormality? (prolonged PR interval and
peaked T waves)
a. Magnesium sulfate, 1-2 g
b. Furosemide (Lasix), 10 mg IV
c. Calcium chloride 10%, 10 mL IV
d. Phosphate, 5-16 mg/kg IV - Answers :C. Calcium chloride 10%, 10 mL IV
The tip of a laryngeal mask airway should rest in which airway structure?
a. Trachea
,b. Palatopharyngeal arch
c. Orophyarynx
d. Hypopharynx - Answers :A. Trachea
Which is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandate on safe
injection practices for the operating room?
a. Needles must be recapped prior to disposal
b. Single-dose medication vials may be used for more than 1 patient.
c. Needles and syringes are single-use items
d. Multidose vials may be used for multiple patients if the needle is changed on the
syringe - Answers :C. Needles and syringes are single-use items.
Up to what percentage of receptors may remain blocked with 4 out of 4 twitches on the
neuromuscular blockage monitor?
a. 95
b. 25
c. 55
d. 75 - Answers :D. 75
Which is the MOST reliable measure of renal function?
a. Serum potassium level
b. Blood urea nitrogen level
c. Serum sodium level
d. Creatinine clearance - Answers :d. Creatinine clearance
Which medication should be administered to a patient who is unresponsive and hypoxic
after receiving midazolam (Versed) for a 20-minute gastrointestinal procedure?
a. Naloxone (Narcan)
b. Neostigmine (Prostigmin)
c. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
d. Atropine - Answers :C. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
Which device is operational to prevent the simultaneous use of more than one
anesthetic vaporizer?
a. Quick connect
b. Interlock
c. Agent-limiting
d. Variable bypass - Answers :B. Interlock
Airway management with a supraglottic airway is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with:
a. hypothyroidism
b. coronary artery disease
c. asthma
d. symptomatic hiatal hernia - Answers :D - Symptomatic hiatal hernia
,An E-cylinder of oxygen with a service pressure of 1,900 PST contains how many liters
of oxygen?
a. 660
b. 190
c.330
d. 1,590 - Answers :A - 660
Which neuromuscular monitoring technique is appropriate for the evaluation of time to
recovery from a deep blockage with rocuronium (Zemuron)?
a. Double-burst stimulation
b. Train-of-Four stimulation
c. Tetanic stimulation
d. Posttetanic count stimulation - Answers :D - Posttetanic count stimulation
What is responsible for an abrupt decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) to near
zero with the absence of an ETCO2 waveform?
a. Exhausted carbon dioxide absorbent material
b. Malfunction of unidirectional inspiratory valve
c. Loss of suction on the scavenge system
d. Anesthesia circuit disconnection - Answers :D. Anesthesia circuit disconnection
Which muscle relaxant is MOST appropriate in patients with advanced liver disease?
a. Vecuronium (Norcuron)
b. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)
c. Pancuronium (Pavulon)
d. Rocuronium (Zemuron) - Answers :B. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)
During administration of anesthesia to a patient with sickle cell disease, which action
minimizes sickling?
a. Continued hypoventilation
b. Administration of 100% oxygen
c. Restriction of fluids
d. Avoidance of hyperthermia - Answers :B. Administration of 100% oxygen
Which valve on the anesthesia gas machine allows respiratory gas to flow to and from a
patient?
a. Unidirectional
b. Adjustable pressure-limiting
c. Shutoff
d. Needle - Answers :A. Unidirectional
Which is an appropriate intervention with complete loss of oxygen pipeline pressure?
a. Fully open the E-Cylinder
b. Consider mechanical ventilation
c. Push the oxygen flush valve
d. Use a high fresh gas flow of oxygen - Answers :A. Fully open the oxygen E-Cylinder
, The MOST important action to enhance the denitrogentaion of the lungs prior to
induction of anesthesia is:
a. having the patient breathe deeply 3x on room air
b. ensuring a tight circuit mask fit on the patient
c. asking the patient to take a deep breath and cough
d. placing the patient on nasal cannula oxygen at 2L/min preoperatively - Answers :b.
Ensuring a tight circuit mask fit on the patient
Which factor correlates with increased risk for postoperative pulmonary complications?
a. Lower abdominal surgery
b. Monitored anesthesia care
c. Age 70 years or older
d. Controlled asthma - Answers :C. Age 70 years or older
Which risk factor is a major predictor for perioperative cardiovascular risk?
a. Unstable angina
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Compensated congestive heart failure
d. Age older than 80 years - Answers :A. Unstable angina
Which cartilage in the larynx is unpaired?
a. Thyroid
b. Corniculate
c. Cuneiform
d. Arytenoid - Answers :A. Thyroid
What is the recommended INITIAL bolus dosing of a 20% lipid emulsion for suspected
local anesthetic toxicity in mL/kg?
a. 10
b. 1.5
c. 0.25
d. 0.5 - Answers :B. 1.5
A 35-year-old woman arrives to the preoperative area for a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy. She has a history of asthma and osteoarthritis. She has no previous
surgeries noted in her record. Her drug list includes albuterol inhaler (Proventil),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and oral contraceptives. She has taken no medications today
and no laboratory tests have been drawn. During her interview, she reports that she
cannot remember her last menstrual period. Her blood pressure is 135/70 mm Hg, heart
rate is 70/min, respiratory rate is 20/min, and room air SaO2 is 97%.
What preoperative laboratory test is MOST pertinent for this patient?
a. Potassium level
b. Hemoglobin level
c. Urine pregnancy
d. Arterial blood gas - Answers :C. Urine pregnancy
