___________________________________________________________________
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
(CAA) Licensure Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1.
A patient under general anesthesia develops a sudden increase in end-tidal
carbon dioxide, tachycardia, muscle rigidity, and rapidly increasing temperature.
Which condition should the anesthesia team suspect?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Malignant hyperthermia
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Thyroid storm
Answer: B. Malignant hyperthermia
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is an acute, life-threatening hypermetabolic
reaction associated with certain anesthetic agents. Early findings include rapidly
rising end-tidal carbon dioxide, tachycardia, muscle rigidity, and hyperthermia.
2.
Which medication is the specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia?
,A. Amiodarone
B. Dantrolene
C. Protamine
D. Naloxone
Answer: B. Dantrolene
Rationale: Dantrolene reduces calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
and is the definitive pharmacologic treatment for malignant hyperthermia.
3.
Which preoperative finding most strongly suggests a potentially difficult mask
ventilation and intubation?
A. Mallampati class I
B. Full neck mobility
C. Limited mouth opening
D. Normal dentition
Answer: C. Limited mouth opening
Rationale: Reduced mouth opening can make visualization of the glottis and
passage of an endotracheal tube more difficult and is an important component
of the airway assessment.
4.
What is the primary purpose of preoxygenation before induction of general
anesthesia?
A. Increase carbon dioxide production
B. Increase functional residual capacity with oxygen
C. Decrease hemoglobin concentration
D. Prevent hypotension
Answer: B. Increase functional residual capacity with oxygen
,Rationale: Preoxygenation replaces nitrogen in the functional residual capacity
with oxygen, increasing the patient's oxygen reserve and extending the safe
apnea period during airway management.
5.
Which intravenous induction agent is commonly associated with dose-dependent
cardiovascular depression?
A. Propofol
B. Ketamine
C. Etomidate
D. Midazolam
Answer: A. Propofol
Rationale: Propofol commonly causes vasodilation and myocardial depression,
which can produce clinically significant decreases in blood pressure, particularly
in hypovolemic patients.
6.
Which induction agent generally produces the least cardiovascular depression?
A. Propofol
B. Etomidate
C. Thiopental
D. Midazolam
Answer: B. Etomidate
Rationale: Etomidate generally preserves cardiovascular stability better than
many other induction agents, making it useful when significant hemodynamic
instability is present.
7.
Which anesthetic agent is known for producing sympathetic stimulation and
generally preserving airway reflexes better than many other induction agents?
, A. Ketamine
B. Propofol
C. Etomidate
D. Thiopental
Answer: A. Ketamine
Rationale: Ketamine produces dissociative anesthesia and commonly increases
sympathetic activity, heart rate, and blood pressure. Airway reflexes and
spontaneous ventilation may be better preserved than with many other
anesthetics.
8.
Which neuromuscular blocker is a depolarizing agent?
A. Rocuronium
B. Vecuronium
C. Cisatracurium
D. Succinylcholine
Answer: D. Succinylcholine
Rationale: Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocker that initially
produces muscle fasciculations followed by paralysis.
9.
Which electrolyte abnormality is a major concern after administration of
succinylcholine in a susceptible patient?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant
(CAA) Licensure Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
___________________________________________________________________
1.
A patient under general anesthesia develops a sudden increase in end-tidal
carbon dioxide, tachycardia, muscle rigidity, and rapidly increasing temperature.
Which condition should the anesthesia team suspect?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Malignant hyperthermia
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Thyroid storm
Answer: B. Malignant hyperthermia
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is an acute, life-threatening hypermetabolic
reaction associated with certain anesthetic agents. Early findings include rapidly
rising end-tidal carbon dioxide, tachycardia, muscle rigidity, and hyperthermia.
2.
Which medication is the specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia?
,A. Amiodarone
B. Dantrolene
C. Protamine
D. Naloxone
Answer: B. Dantrolene
Rationale: Dantrolene reduces calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
and is the definitive pharmacologic treatment for malignant hyperthermia.
3.
Which preoperative finding most strongly suggests a potentially difficult mask
ventilation and intubation?
A. Mallampati class I
B. Full neck mobility
C. Limited mouth opening
D. Normal dentition
Answer: C. Limited mouth opening
Rationale: Reduced mouth opening can make visualization of the glottis and
passage of an endotracheal tube more difficult and is an important component
of the airway assessment.
4.
What is the primary purpose of preoxygenation before induction of general
anesthesia?
A. Increase carbon dioxide production
B. Increase functional residual capacity with oxygen
C. Decrease hemoglobin concentration
D. Prevent hypotension
Answer: B. Increase functional residual capacity with oxygen
,Rationale: Preoxygenation replaces nitrogen in the functional residual capacity
with oxygen, increasing the patient's oxygen reserve and extending the safe
apnea period during airway management.
5.
Which intravenous induction agent is commonly associated with dose-dependent
cardiovascular depression?
A. Propofol
B. Ketamine
C. Etomidate
D. Midazolam
Answer: A. Propofol
Rationale: Propofol commonly causes vasodilation and myocardial depression,
which can produce clinically significant decreases in blood pressure, particularly
in hypovolemic patients.
6.
Which induction agent generally produces the least cardiovascular depression?
A. Propofol
B. Etomidate
C. Thiopental
D. Midazolam
Answer: B. Etomidate
Rationale: Etomidate generally preserves cardiovascular stability better than
many other induction agents, making it useful when significant hemodynamic
instability is present.
7.
Which anesthetic agent is known for producing sympathetic stimulation and
generally preserving airway reflexes better than many other induction agents?
, A. Ketamine
B. Propofol
C. Etomidate
D. Thiopental
Answer: A. Ketamine
Rationale: Ketamine produces dissociative anesthesia and commonly increases
sympathetic activity, heart rate, and blood pressure. Airway reflexes and
spontaneous ventilation may be better preserved than with many other
anesthetics.
8.
Which neuromuscular blocker is a depolarizing agent?
A. Rocuronium
B. Vecuronium
C. Cisatracurium
D. Succinylcholine
Answer: D. Succinylcholine
Rationale: Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocker that initially
produces muscle fasciculations followed by paralysis.
9.
Which electrolyte abnormality is a major concern after administration of
succinylcholine in a susceptible patient?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B. Hyperkalemia
