Chapter 10: General Anesthetics UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Intravenously administered general anesthetics include all classifications of central nervous
system depressants except which of the following? - CORRECT ANSWER - Prostaglandin
inhibitors
Prostaglandin inhibitors are a class of analgesics, not general anesthetic agents. Opioids,
ultrashort-acting barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that
are used for induction and short periods of general anesthesia
Use of this halogenated hydrocarbon general anesthetic can provoke coughing but does not cause
liver toxicity. Low tissue solubility allows for rapid induction and recovery, making it a useful
and popular drug for general anesthetic. - CORRECT ANSWER - Isoflurane
The tissue solubility of isoflurane (Forane) is poor, which allows for rapid induction and
recovery. Its odor limits induction concentration because of the potential for coughing. Because
only about 15% of isoflurane is metabolized in the liver, hepatoxicity is not a problem
All are important components of general anesthesia except which of the following? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Respiratory paralysis
Respiratory paralysis would result in patient death, so is not a desired component of general
anesthesia. The goals of surgical anesthesia are loss of consciousness, adequate muscle
relaxation, good patient control, and pain cessation
Which general anesthetic agent is unrelated to any other general anesthetic and has the advantage
of allowing patients to "feel better" and ambulate sooner than with other agents? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Propofol
, Propofol is a general anesthetic agent that is unrelated to any other general anesthetic and has the
advantage of allowing patients to "feel better" and ambulate sooner than with other agents. It is
an IV anesthetic that has a rapid onset and duration of about 5 minutes. It is also used for IV
sedation and for induction and maintenance of balanced anesthesia. Enflurane and halothane are
both classified as volatile liquid anesthetics. Ketamine is chemically related to phencyclidine
(PCP) and produces analgesia without loss of consciousness. Morphine is an opioid that is used
as an adjunctive drug to general anesthetic
All are contraindications for nitrous oxide administration except which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Anxious patients
Anxiety is one of the primary indications for use of nitrous oxide conscious sedation. Any
condition that interferes with the patient's ability to breathe will interfere with the efficacy of
nitrous oxide. Respiration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as
emphysema, is driven by lack of oxygen, and the increased levels of oxygen given with nitrous
oxide could interfere with their respiratory drive. Patients who are emotionally unstable may be
taking psychotropic medications that could have an adverse effect
What is the minimal level of oxygen required for nitrous oxide fail-safe systems? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 30%
Nitrous oxide equipment today has built-in safety features, including a minimal concentration of
30% oxygen flow, or the machine's fail-safe system will shut off the flow of nitrous oxide
Modern anesthetic techniques use more rapidly acting agents than those associated with Guedel's
stages. Flagg's stages reflect these agents and include all except which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Analgesia
Analgesia is not included in Flagg's stages of general anesthesia. Flagg's stages describe more
rapidly acting anesthetic agents than those used when Guedel's stages were developed, and they
include the following:(1) Induction—all preparation and medication for the patient up to the
beginning of the operation, including preoperative medications, adjunctive drugs to anesthesia,
and anesthetics required for induction.(2) Maintenance—this phase begins with the patient at the
depth of anesthesia sufficient to allow surgical manipulation and continues to the completion of
the procedure.(3) Recovery—this phase begins with the termination of the surgical procedure
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Intravenously administered general anesthetics include all classifications of central nervous
system depressants except which of the following? - CORRECT ANSWER - Prostaglandin
inhibitors
Prostaglandin inhibitors are a class of analgesics, not general anesthetic agents. Opioids,
ultrashort-acting barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that
are used for induction and short periods of general anesthesia
Use of this halogenated hydrocarbon general anesthetic can provoke coughing but does not cause
liver toxicity. Low tissue solubility allows for rapid induction and recovery, making it a useful
and popular drug for general anesthetic. - CORRECT ANSWER - Isoflurane
The tissue solubility of isoflurane (Forane) is poor, which allows for rapid induction and
recovery. Its odor limits induction concentration because of the potential for coughing. Because
only about 15% of isoflurane is metabolized in the liver, hepatoxicity is not a problem
All are important components of general anesthesia except which of the following? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Respiratory paralysis
Respiratory paralysis would result in patient death, so is not a desired component of general
anesthesia. The goals of surgical anesthesia are loss of consciousness, adequate muscle
relaxation, good patient control, and pain cessation
Which general anesthetic agent is unrelated to any other general anesthetic and has the advantage
of allowing patients to "feel better" and ambulate sooner than with other agents? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Propofol
, Propofol is a general anesthetic agent that is unrelated to any other general anesthetic and has the
advantage of allowing patients to "feel better" and ambulate sooner than with other agents. It is
an IV anesthetic that has a rapid onset and duration of about 5 minutes. It is also used for IV
sedation and for induction and maintenance of balanced anesthesia. Enflurane and halothane are
both classified as volatile liquid anesthetics. Ketamine is chemically related to phencyclidine
(PCP) and produces analgesia without loss of consciousness. Morphine is an opioid that is used
as an adjunctive drug to general anesthetic
All are contraindications for nitrous oxide administration except which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Anxious patients
Anxiety is one of the primary indications for use of nitrous oxide conscious sedation. Any
condition that interferes with the patient's ability to breathe will interfere with the efficacy of
nitrous oxide. Respiration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as
emphysema, is driven by lack of oxygen, and the increased levels of oxygen given with nitrous
oxide could interfere with their respiratory drive. Patients who are emotionally unstable may be
taking psychotropic medications that could have an adverse effect
What is the minimal level of oxygen required for nitrous oxide fail-safe systems? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 30%
Nitrous oxide equipment today has built-in safety features, including a minimal concentration of
30% oxygen flow, or the machine's fail-safe system will shut off the flow of nitrous oxide
Modern anesthetic techniques use more rapidly acting agents than those associated with Guedel's
stages. Flagg's stages reflect these agents and include all except which of the following? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Analgesia
Analgesia is not included in Flagg's stages of general anesthesia. Flagg's stages describe more
rapidly acting anesthetic agents than those used when Guedel's stages were developed, and they
include the following:(1) Induction—all preparation and medication for the patient up to the
beginning of the operation, including preoperative medications, adjunctive drugs to anesthesia,
and anesthetics required for induction.(2) Maintenance—this phase begins with the patient at the
depth of anesthesia sufficient to allow surgical manipulation and continues to the completion of
the procedure.(3) Recovery—this phase begins with the termination of the surgical procedure
