ABDSM FINAL EXAM TEST BANK | ALL CURRENTLY
TESTING AND RECENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Q1. Which of the following statements is true regarding a modified Mallampati
classification of the oral pharynx?
A. Mallampati II allows visualization of only the hard palate
B. Mallampati III allows visualization of only the hard palate
C. Mallampati classifications are taken with the patient sedated and reclined
D. Mallampati classifications of IV have greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of I
for severe OSA
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Mallampati score predicts airway collapsibility. Higher classes (III–IV) correlate with increased
risk and severity of OSA. Class IV carries a significantly higher odds ratio for severe OSA
compared to Class I. Options A and B are incorrect because Class II shows soft palate/uvula,
while only Class IV shows hard palate only. Option C is incorrect—classification is done with
the patient upright, mouth open, tongue protruded, not sedated.
Q2. What 8-item questionnaire was developed to perioperatively screen for risk of OSA?
A. ESS
B. STOP-BANG
C. MSLT
D. Berlin
DrMedinaReed
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
STOP-BANG (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, BMI, Age, Neck
circumference, Gender) is an 8-item validated screening tool widely used in perioperative
patients. ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) screens daytime sleepiness, not OSA risk. MSLT is a
diagnostic sleep study, not a questionnaire. Berlin is another OSA tool but not specifically 8
items.
Q3. In the pathophysiology of sleep apnea, airway patency and stability is promoted by
which factor?
A. Increased lung volume
B. Shorter mandible
C. Increased parapharyngeal fat deposition
D. Negative inspiratory pressure
E. Reduced pharyngeal muscle dilator activity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Higher lung volumes exert caudal traction on the pharyngeal walls, promoting airway stability.
Short mandible and increased fat deposition narrow the airway. Negative inspiratory pressure
and reduced dilator tone worsen collapse.
Q4. Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for which of the
following sleep-related breathing disorders?
A. Primary central sleep apnea
B. Cheyne-Stokes periodic breathing
C. Obesity hypoventilation
DrMedinaReed
,D. Overlap syndrome (OSA and COPD)
E. None of the above
Correct Answer: E
Rationale:
Oral appliance therapy is effective only for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), not for central
disorders or hypoventilation syndromes.
Q5. Which of the following is true about OSA and HTN?
A. Ambulatory BP is increased in OSA patients primarily due to increased salt intake associated
with elevated ghrelin levels
B. Ambulatory BP normally increases in the early AM before awakening—this increase is
blunted in OSA
C. Untreated OSA is associated with a similar risk of HTN at all severity levels
D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic overactivation,
inflammation, and other complex factors
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
OSA leads to hypertension via repeated hypoxia, sympathetic activation, oxidative stress, and
endothelial dysfunction. Option B is incorrect—BP surge is exaggerated, not blunted. Options A
and C oversimplify or misstate associations.
Q6. Across a general population, what is the most common sleep disorder?
A. RLS
B. Narcolepsy
C. Delayed sleep phase syndrome
DrMedinaReed
, D. Insomnia
E. Obstructive sleep apnea
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder overall, affecting ~10–20% chronically. OSA is
common but less prevalent than insomnia.
Q7. Measurement has shown that patients with sleep apnea have smaller upper airways
than those without sleep apnea but manage to keep an open airway during wakefulness by:
A. Mouth Breathing
B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
C. Increased blood flow to the soft tissue
D. Frequent bruxing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
During wakefulness, increased pharyngeal dilator muscle tone prevents airway collapse despite
anatomical narrowing.
Q8. Key features of sleep apnea as recorded during an in-lab sleep study include marked
reduction or absence of air flow, arousals from sleep, slowing of heart rate and:
A. Choking or gasping for air
B. Oxygen desaturation
C. Flattening of the nasal pressure signal
D. Flailing of the arms and legs
E. Sawtooth waves in the EEG
DrMedinaReed
TESTING AND RECENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST UPDATE
Q1. Which of the following statements is true regarding a modified Mallampati
classification of the oral pharynx?
A. Mallampati II allows visualization of only the hard palate
B. Mallampati III allows visualization of only the hard palate
C. Mallampati classifications are taken with the patient sedated and reclined
D. Mallampati classifications of IV have greater odds ratio than Mallampati classifications of I
for severe OSA
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Mallampati score predicts airway collapsibility. Higher classes (III–IV) correlate with increased
risk and severity of OSA. Class IV carries a significantly higher odds ratio for severe OSA
compared to Class I. Options A and B are incorrect because Class II shows soft palate/uvula,
while only Class IV shows hard palate only. Option C is incorrect—classification is done with
the patient upright, mouth open, tongue protruded, not sedated.
Q2. What 8-item questionnaire was developed to perioperatively screen for risk of OSA?
A. ESS
B. STOP-BANG
C. MSLT
D. Berlin
DrMedinaReed
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
STOP-BANG (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, BMI, Age, Neck
circumference, Gender) is an 8-item validated screening tool widely used in perioperative
patients. ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) screens daytime sleepiness, not OSA risk. MSLT is a
diagnostic sleep study, not a questionnaire. Berlin is another OSA tool but not specifically 8
items.
Q3. In the pathophysiology of sleep apnea, airway patency and stability is promoted by
which factor?
A. Increased lung volume
B. Shorter mandible
C. Increased parapharyngeal fat deposition
D. Negative inspiratory pressure
E. Reduced pharyngeal muscle dilator activity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Higher lung volumes exert caudal traction on the pharyngeal walls, promoting airway stability.
Short mandible and increased fat deposition narrow the airway. Negative inspiratory pressure
and reduced dilator tone worsen collapse.
Q4. Oral appliance therapy commonly provides successful sole therapy for which of the
following sleep-related breathing disorders?
A. Primary central sleep apnea
B. Cheyne-Stokes periodic breathing
C. Obesity hypoventilation
DrMedinaReed
,D. Overlap syndrome (OSA and COPD)
E. None of the above
Correct Answer: E
Rationale:
Oral appliance therapy is effective only for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), not for central
disorders or hypoventilation syndromes.
Q5. Which of the following is true about OSA and HTN?
A. Ambulatory BP is increased in OSA patients primarily due to increased salt intake associated
with elevated ghrelin levels
B. Ambulatory BP normally increases in the early AM before awakening—this increase is
blunted in OSA
C. Untreated OSA is associated with a similar risk of HTN at all severity levels
D. The risk of HTN in untreated OSA is due to intermittent hypoxia, sympathetic overactivation,
inflammation, and other complex factors
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
OSA leads to hypertension via repeated hypoxia, sympathetic activation, oxidative stress, and
endothelial dysfunction. Option B is incorrect—BP surge is exaggerated, not blunted. Options A
and C oversimplify or misstate associations.
Q6. Across a general population, what is the most common sleep disorder?
A. RLS
B. Narcolepsy
C. Delayed sleep phase syndrome
DrMedinaReed
, D. Insomnia
E. Obstructive sleep apnea
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder overall, affecting ~10–20% chronically. OSA is
common but less prevalent than insomnia.
Q7. Measurement has shown that patients with sleep apnea have smaller upper airways
than those without sleep apnea but manage to keep an open airway during wakefulness by:
A. Mouth Breathing
B. Increased muscle tone on inspiration
C. Increased blood flow to the soft tissue
D. Frequent bruxing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
During wakefulness, increased pharyngeal dilator muscle tone prevents airway collapse despite
anatomical narrowing.
Q8. Key features of sleep apnea as recorded during an in-lab sleep study include marked
reduction or absence of air flow, arousals from sleep, slowing of heart rate and:
A. Choking or gasping for air
B. Oxygen desaturation
C. Flattening of the nasal pressure signal
D. Flailing of the arms and legs
E. Sawtooth waves in the EEG
DrMedinaReed
