Anaesthesia

Question 1

All vaporiser dials turn _________ to increase the concentration.

Answer 1

Anticlockwise

Question 2

Name some safety features on vaporisers

Answer 2

• Keyed filling system
• Colour coded
• Interlock system
• Anti-tip device
• Back pressure

Question 3

What is the composition of medical air?

Answer 3

21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen & 1% argon

Question 4

Define local anaesthesia

Answer 4

Patient is awake but only the specific body part being operated on is numbed, using either topical or injected (infiltration) anaesthetic

Question 5

Define conscious sedation

Answer 5

Sedative and/or opioid drugs given to sedate patient during a procedure, however patient is still awake and can follow instructions if necessary

Question 6

Define regional anaesthesia

Answer 6

A specific portion of the body is numbed using injectable local anaesthetic

Question 7

Define general anaesthesia

Answer 7

Triad of anaesthesia (sometimes without relaxation) used to make patients ‘asleep’ for surgery, either IV or inhalation anaesthetic is used.

Question 8

Two types of local anaesthetic

Answer 8

Topical and infiltration

Question 9

How does topical local anaesthetic work?

Answer 9

Absorbed through the tissues, targets free nerve endings within the dermis or mucosa causing temporary loss of sensation

Question 10

Commonly used infiltration local anaesthetics

Answer 10

• Lignocaine
• Ropivicaine
• Bupivicaine/Levobupivicaine
• Articaine

Question 11

How do you extend duration two-fold of infiltration local anaesthesia?

Answer 11

Mix with a vasoconstrictor (such as epinephrine)

Question 12

Conscious sedation is commonly used in:

Answer 12

Dentistry and colonoscopy or upper GI endoscopy

Question 13

Commonly used IV sedation

Answer 13

Benzodiazepines (such as midazolam) or opiates (such as fentanyl/pethidine)

Question 14

For a spinal, local anaesthetic is injected into:

Answer 14

The subarachnoid space

Question 15

Spinal is used for surgery where?

Answer 15

Below umbilicus

Question 16

Most commonly used anaesthetics for spinal are:

Answer 16

• Bupivacaine
• Levobupivacaine

Question 17

What are added to spinal and epidural anaesthetic to prolong and intensify anaesthetic effects?

Answer 17

Opiates

Question 18

For an epidural, local anaesthetic is injected into:

Answer 18

The epidural space - between ligamentum flavum and dura mater

Question 19

What is the most commonly used anaesthetic for epidural?

Answer 19

Levobupivacaine

Question 20

Clinician knows they are in the correct space for a spinal through:

Answer 20

Appearance of CSF

Question 21

What gives a headache due to puncture of dura mater?

Answer 21

Spinal

Question 22

Which regional anaesthesia can be administered at any level of the vertebral column?

Answer 22

Epidural

Question 23

Which regional anaesthesia is administered below L1/L2, where spinal cord ends?

Answer 23

Spinal

Question 24

Clinician knows they are
in the correct space for an epidural through:

Answer 24

Loss of resistance in syringe

Question 25

General anaesthetic obtained using:

Answer 25

Analgesic and hypnotic (and sometimes muscle relaxing) drugs

Question 26

Which type of anaesthetic takes longer to have an effect - spinal or epidural?

Answer 26

Epidural