1|Page
ANZCA FINALS PAST MCQ EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Acromegaly due to excess of growth hormone. Why is
it difficult to do a direct laryngoscopy?
A: Distorted facial anatomy
B: Macroglossia
C: Glottic stenosis
D: Prognathe mandible
E: Arthritis of the neck - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER
B
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Most important to specifically
do all EXCEPT:
A: Avoid hyperextension of the neck
B: Damage to the teeth
C: Avoid joint hypermobility
D: Gastro oesophageal reflex
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E: Strict temperature regulation - .....ANSWER... ✔✔
ANSWER E
ISSUES
1. GORD and gastritis
2. Early satiety and delayed gastric emptying
3. High, narrow palate and dental crowding
4. Peridontal disease (friability, gingivitis, gum
recession)
5. Joint laxity. Subluxations and dislocations are
common and represent the major manifestation of the
condition. All sites can be involved, including the
extremities, vertebral column, costo-vertebral and
costo-sternal joints, clavicular articulations, and
temporomandibular joints.
An 85y.o for open AAA repair. Refuses blood because
of risk of vCJD. You tell him you won't anaesthetise him
as the risk is too high. This is an example of:
A: Autonomy
B: Beneficence
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C: Malevolence
D: Coercion
E: Paternalism - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER C
A 35yr old African-American with sickle cell and
fractured ankle for ORIF. Hb 90, Haematocrit 0.3.
A: Transfuse 2 units packed cells (?pre-op)
B: Let him cool passively to low/normal temperature
C: Spinal is safe
D: Avoid thiopentone
E: Tourniquet is absolutely contra-indicated -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER C
A - WRONG: "Although widely practiced, prophylactic
erythrocyte transfusion remains a treatment with
appreciable complications whose potential benefits
have not been clearly demonstrated by a prospective,
randomized clinical trial". Also a study in orthopaedic
patients "did not detect a prophylactic effect from
preoperative transfusion" (Sickle Cell Disease and
Anesthesia. Anesthesiology 2004; 101:766-85)
, 4|Page
B - WRONG: "Although hypothermia would tend to
retard sickling because of a left shift of the oxygen
dissociation curve, hypothermia is often identified as a
precipitant of perioperative SCD complications".
"avoidance of patient hypothermia is a basic objective
for most anesthetics" (Same reference)
C - CORRECT: "The use of regional anesthesia therefore
does not appear to be contraindicated in SCD" (Same
reference) and OHA p202 agrees
D - ??? but seems unlikely
E - WRONG according to OHA p202 -JC
Absolute contraindication to sitting position for
posterior fossa craniotomy for meningioma
A: Prescence of patent ventriculo-atrial drain/shunt
B: 0.5mm PFO
ANZCA FINALS PAST MCQ EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025
Acromegaly due to excess of growth hormone. Why is
it difficult to do a direct laryngoscopy?
A: Distorted facial anatomy
B: Macroglossia
C: Glottic stenosis
D: Prognathe mandible
E: Arthritis of the neck - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER
B
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Most important to specifically
do all EXCEPT:
A: Avoid hyperextension of the neck
B: Damage to the teeth
C: Avoid joint hypermobility
D: Gastro oesophageal reflex
,2|Page
E: Strict temperature regulation - .....ANSWER... ✔✔
ANSWER E
ISSUES
1. GORD and gastritis
2. Early satiety and delayed gastric emptying
3. High, narrow palate and dental crowding
4. Peridontal disease (friability, gingivitis, gum
recession)
5. Joint laxity. Subluxations and dislocations are
common and represent the major manifestation of the
condition. All sites can be involved, including the
extremities, vertebral column, costo-vertebral and
costo-sternal joints, clavicular articulations, and
temporomandibular joints.
An 85y.o for open AAA repair. Refuses blood because
of risk of vCJD. You tell him you won't anaesthetise him
as the risk is too high. This is an example of:
A: Autonomy
B: Beneficence
,3|Page
C: Malevolence
D: Coercion
E: Paternalism - .....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER C
A 35yr old African-American with sickle cell and
fractured ankle for ORIF. Hb 90, Haematocrit 0.3.
A: Transfuse 2 units packed cells (?pre-op)
B: Let him cool passively to low/normal temperature
C: Spinal is safe
D: Avoid thiopentone
E: Tourniquet is absolutely contra-indicated -
.....ANSWER... ✔✔ ANSWER C
A - WRONG: "Although widely practiced, prophylactic
erythrocyte transfusion remains a treatment with
appreciable complications whose potential benefits
have not been clearly demonstrated by a prospective,
randomized clinical trial". Also a study in orthopaedic
patients "did not detect a prophylactic effect from
preoperative transfusion" (Sickle Cell Disease and
Anesthesia. Anesthesiology 2004; 101:766-85)
, 4|Page
B - WRONG: "Although hypothermia would tend to
retard sickling because of a left shift of the oxygen
dissociation curve, hypothermia is often identified as a
precipitant of perioperative SCD complications".
"avoidance of patient hypothermia is a basic objective
for most anesthetics" (Same reference)
C - CORRECT: "The use of regional anesthesia therefore
does not appear to be contraindicated in SCD" (Same
reference) and OHA p202 agrees
D - ??? but seems unlikely
E - WRONG according to OHA p202 -JC
Absolute contraindication to sitting position for
posterior fossa craniotomy for meningioma
A: Prescence of patent ventriculo-atrial drain/shunt
B: 0.5mm PFO
