Complications in Anesthesia — Flashcards

Flashcard 11: The most common anaphylactic agent during anesthesia is _____

Answer: antibiotics

Flashcard 12: The _____ toxicity of volatile anesthetics is due to their metabolic breakdown to free fluoride ions

Answer: renal

Flashcard 13: What is the characteristic location of PDPH?_____

Answer: Frontal and/or occipital

Flashcard 14: A patient undergoing massive transfusion may develop _____calcemia due to citrate toxicity

Answer: hypo

Flashcard 15: Cardiac arrest is a _____ sign of malignant hyperthermia

Answer: late

Flashcard 16: What is a major life-threatening anesthesia-related complication in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

Answer: Anesthesia-induced rhabdomyolysis (AIR) and Hyperkalemia

Extra: Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are at risk of Anesthesia-Induced Rhabdomyolysis (AIR) when exposed to triggering agents (volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine). This leads to acute, life-threatening hyperkalemia and potential cardiac arrest. Note: While the clinical presentation is similar, DMD is no longer considered a risk factor for classic Malignant Hyperthermia (MH). The two conditions have different genetic and pathophysiological bases.

Flashcard 17: _____ effect is the decrease in the partial pressure of the 2nd gas (leading to hypoxia) due to the rapid elimination of first gas during recovery from anesthesia

Answer: Fink effect (Diffusion hypoxia)

Flashcard 18: Intra-_____ injection of thiopentone can form crystals in the arterioles and capillaries, causing severe vasoconstriction, thrombosis and even gangrene

Answer: arterial

Flashcard 19: A drastic fall in etCO2 with hypotension during neck surgery is most likely due to _____.

Answer: venous air embolism (VAE)

Flashcard 20: The most common complication of a central line insertion below the clavicle is _____

Answer: Pneumothorax

Extra: For **subclavian vein** catheterization (infra-clavicular), **pneumothorax** is the most common mechanical complication (approx 1.5–3%). In contrast, for **internal jugular vein** catheterization, **arterial puncture** (carotid artery) is the most common complication (approx 6–9%).