___________________________________________________________________
NCCAA Continued Demonstration of
Qualifications (CDQ) Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A patient undergoing general anesthesia develops hypotension shortly after
induction. Which mechanism is most likely responsible?
A. Increased systemic vascular resistance
B. Increased venous return
C. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
D. Increased myocardial contractility
Answer: Decreased systemic vascular resistance
Rationale: Induction agents commonly cause vasodilation, which reduces
systemic vascular resistance and venous return and can produce hypotension.
2. Which airway structure is primarily responsible for preventing aspiration
during swallowing?
A. Thyroid cartilage
B. Vocal cords
,C. Uvula
D. Epiglottis
Answer: Epiglottis
Rationale: The epiglottis helps direct swallowed material away from the
laryngeal inlet during swallowing.
3. Which anesthetic agent has the greatest blood-gas solubility among
commonly used volatile anesthetics?
A. Desflurane
B. Sevoflurane
C. Nitrous oxide
D. Isoflurane
Answer: Isoflurane
Rationale: Isoflurane is more blood soluble than desflurane and sevoflurane,
resulting in slower changes in anesthetic depth.
4. A patient has an arterial blood gas showing pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and
HCO₃⁻ 25 mEq/L. What is the primary disorder?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The low pH with elevated PaCO₂ and relatively normal bicarbonate
indicates acute respiratory acidosis.
5. Which medication is most appropriate for rapid treatment of severe opioid-
induced respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Atropine
,C. Ephedrine
D. Naloxone
Answer: Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced
respiratory and central nervous system depression.
6. Which cardiovascular variable is directly calculated as heart rate multiplied
by stroke volume?
A. Systemic vascular resistance
B. Mean arterial pressure
C. Cardiac output
D. Pulmonary vascular resistance
Answer: Cardiac output
Rationale: Cardiac output equals heart rate × stroke volume.
7. Which electrolyte abnormality is most strongly associated with ventricular
dysrhythmias and muscle weakness?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperchloremia
D. Hyperphosphatemia
Answer: Hypokalemia
Rationale: Low serum potassium increases myocardial electrical instability and
can cause weakness and potentially serious dysrhythmias.
8. Which induction agent is generally associated with cardiovascular stability
and increased sympathetic activity?
A. Propofol
B. Thiopental
C. Ketamine
D. Midazolam
, Answer: Ketamine
Rationale: Ketamine generally stimulates the sympathetic nervous system,
helping maintain blood pressure and heart rate in many patients.
9. Which cranial nerve provides the primary motor innervation to the
diaphragm?
A. Vagus nerve
B. Glossopharyngeal nerve
C. Intercostal nerve
D. Phrenic nerve
Answer: Phrenic nerve
Rationale: The phrenic nerve, arising primarily from C3–C5 spinal roots, provides
motor innervation to the diaphragm.
10.What is the primary determinant of alveolar anesthetic concentration
during administration of a volatile anesthetic?
A. Hemoglobin concentration
B. Inspired anesthetic concentration
C. Serum sodium
D. Plasma protein concentration
Answer: Inspired anesthetic concentration
Rationale: Increasing inspired concentration increases the driving force for
anesthetic uptake into the lungs and ultimately the brain.
11.Which neuromuscular blocker is classified as a depolarizing agent?
A. Rocuronium
B. Vecuronium
C. Cisatracurium
D. Succinylcholine
Answer: Succinylcholine
NCCAA Continued Demonstration of
Qualifications (CDQ) Exam Practice
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. A patient undergoing general anesthesia develops hypotension shortly after
induction. Which mechanism is most likely responsible?
A. Increased systemic vascular resistance
B. Increased venous return
C. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
D. Increased myocardial contractility
Answer: Decreased systemic vascular resistance
Rationale: Induction agents commonly cause vasodilation, which reduces
systemic vascular resistance and venous return and can produce hypotension.
2. Which airway structure is primarily responsible for preventing aspiration
during swallowing?
A. Thyroid cartilage
B. Vocal cords
,C. Uvula
D. Epiglottis
Answer: Epiglottis
Rationale: The epiglottis helps direct swallowed material away from the
laryngeal inlet during swallowing.
3. Which anesthetic agent has the greatest blood-gas solubility among
commonly used volatile anesthetics?
A. Desflurane
B. Sevoflurane
C. Nitrous oxide
D. Isoflurane
Answer: Isoflurane
Rationale: Isoflurane is more blood soluble than desflurane and sevoflurane,
resulting in slower changes in anesthetic depth.
4. A patient has an arterial blood gas showing pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and
HCO₃⁻ 25 mEq/L. What is the primary disorder?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The low pH with elevated PaCO₂ and relatively normal bicarbonate
indicates acute respiratory acidosis.
5. Which medication is most appropriate for rapid treatment of severe opioid-
induced respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Atropine
,C. Ephedrine
D. Naloxone
Answer: Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced
respiratory and central nervous system depression.
6. Which cardiovascular variable is directly calculated as heart rate multiplied
by stroke volume?
A. Systemic vascular resistance
B. Mean arterial pressure
C. Cardiac output
D. Pulmonary vascular resistance
Answer: Cardiac output
Rationale: Cardiac output equals heart rate × stroke volume.
7. Which electrolyte abnormality is most strongly associated with ventricular
dysrhythmias and muscle weakness?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyperchloremia
D. Hyperphosphatemia
Answer: Hypokalemia
Rationale: Low serum potassium increases myocardial electrical instability and
can cause weakness and potentially serious dysrhythmias.
8. Which induction agent is generally associated with cardiovascular stability
and increased sympathetic activity?
A. Propofol
B. Thiopental
C. Ketamine
D. Midazolam
, Answer: Ketamine
Rationale: Ketamine generally stimulates the sympathetic nervous system,
helping maintain blood pressure and heart rate in many patients.
9. Which cranial nerve provides the primary motor innervation to the
diaphragm?
A. Vagus nerve
B. Glossopharyngeal nerve
C. Intercostal nerve
D. Phrenic nerve
Answer: Phrenic nerve
Rationale: The phrenic nerve, arising primarily from C3–C5 spinal roots, provides
motor innervation to the diaphragm.
10.What is the primary determinant of alveolar anesthetic concentration
during administration of a volatile anesthetic?
A. Hemoglobin concentration
B. Inspired anesthetic concentration
C. Serum sodium
D. Plasma protein concentration
Answer: Inspired anesthetic concentration
Rationale: Increasing inspired concentration increases the driving force for
anesthetic uptake into the lungs and ultimately the brain.
11.Which neuromuscular blocker is classified as a depolarizing agent?
A. Rocuronium
B. Vecuronium
C. Cisatracurium
D. Succinylcholine
Answer: Succinylcholine
