Afghanistan Anesthesia Technology Exit Exam key terms

The amount of air moved into or out of the lungs during one normal, quiet breath. It is usually set on a ventilator as a volume per breath, commonly based on predicted body weight.

The total volume of gas breathed in or out of the lungs in one minute, calculated by multiplying tidal volume by respiratory rate. It reflects overall alveolar and dead-space gas exchange per minute.

The volume of gas remaining in the lungs after a normal passive exhalation, representing the balance point between lung elastic recoil and chest wall outward pull. It is the main oxygen reservoir during apnea.

The administration of high-concentration oxygen before inducing anesthesia or attempting airway instrumentation, to replace nitrogen in the lungs and create an oxygen reserve that prolongs safe apnea time.

A technique for inducing anesthesia with a fast-acting agent and neuromuscular blocker, applied with cricoid pressure and no mask ventilation, designed to minimize the time and risk of gastric aspiration during airway control.

A backward force applied to the cricoid cartilage to compress the upper esophagus against the cervical spine, intended to reduce the risk of passive regurgitation and aspiration during induction. Its routine effectiveness is debated.

A bedside grading of visible oropharyngeal structures when a seated patient opens the mouth and protrudes the tongue, used to predict difficulty of laryngoscopy and direct visualization of the vocal cords.

The distance measured from the thyroid notch to the lower border of the mandible with the head extended. A short distance suggests an anterior larynx and possible difficulty with direct laryngoscopy.

A clinical situation in which a trained anesthesia provider experiences difficulty with face-mask ventilation, supraglottic device placement, laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, or extubation, requiring a preplanned alternative strategy.

An airway adjunct inserted blindly into the pharynx that seals around the laryngeal inlet to deliver ventilation without entering the trachea. It is used for rescue ventilation and selected short procedures.

A specific type of supraglottic device with an inflatable or shaped cuff that sits over the laryngeal opening, allowing mask-free ventilation while protecting the airway less completely than a tracheal tube.

Continuous measurement and display of the carbon dioxide concentration in exhaled gas. The waveform confirms tracheal tube placement, and its trend reflects ventilation, cardiac output, and airway obstruction.

The peak carbon dioxide concentration measured at the end of exhalation, normally close to arterial carbon dioxide tension. A sudden fall or loss of the value suggests esophageal intubation, disconnection, or cardiac arrest.

A noninvasive technique that estimates arterial oxygen saturation by measuring light absorption of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin across a pulsatile vascular bed, usually a finger or earlobe.

An abnormally low oxygen content of arterial blood, reflected by low oxygen partial pressure or low saturation on oximetry. It can result from low inspired oxygen, hypoventilation, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, or shunting.

Arterial blood pressure below the level needed to perfuse vital organs. In the perioperative period it commonly results from anesthetic-induced vasodilation, hypovolemia, blood loss, or cardiac depression.

The average arterial pressure throughout the cardiac cycle, approximating one-third of the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure added to diastolic pressure. It is the key perfusion pressure targeted during anesthesia.

A neuraxial technique in which local anesthetic is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space, producing rapid sensory and motor blockade below the injection level, often accompanied by sympathetic blockade and hypotension.

A neuraxial technique in which local anesthetic is placed in the epidural space outside the dura, producing segmental blockade that can be maintained with a catheter. Onset is slower and hypotension more gradual than with spinal anesthesia.

A dose-related complication of local anesthetic absorption or inadvertent intravascular injection, causing neurologic excitation followed by seizures and cardiovascular depression. Treatment includes airway support and intravenous lipid emulsion.

The upper limit of local anesthetic that may be given, usually expressed in milligrams per kilogram of body weight, calculated to avoid systemic toxicity. The limit differs by drug and by whether epinephrine is added.

A rare inherited hypermetabolic crisis triggered by volatile anesthetics and depolarizing muscle relaxants, marked by rising temperature, muscle rigidity, hypercarbia, and acidosis. Treatment is dantrolene plus aggressive supportive care.

A short-acting depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug used mainly for rapid sequence intubation. It causes muscle fasciculations and can trigger hyperkalemia, prolonged paralysis, or malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients.

Pharmacologic paralysis produced by drugs that interrupt transmission at the neuromuscular junction, used to relax skeletal muscle for intubation and surgery. Depth is monitored to guide dosing and reversal.

A quantitative assessment of neuromuscular blockade in which four electrical stimuli are delivered to a motor nerve and the number or ratio of evoked muscle responses is counted to guide relaxant dosing and reversal.

The entry of gastric or oropharyngeal contents into the tracheobronchial tree, which can cause chemical pneumonitis, obstruction, and hypoxemia. Risk is reduced by fasting rules, rapid sequence induction, and cricoid pressure.

The instruction that a patient take nothing by mouth for a specified period before anesthesia, intended to empty the stomach and reduce aspiration risk. Clear fluids, breast milk, and solid food have different fasting intervals.

A six-level classification that grades a patient's overall health before anesthesia, from healthy to moribund, used for risk communication and perioperative planning rather than as a precise outcome predictor.

The process of explaining a proposed anesthetic plan, its benefits, risks, and alternatives, and obtaining the patient's voluntary agreement before proceeding. It respects patient autonomy and supports shared decision-making.

A monitored recovery area where patients are observed after anesthesia until vital signs, consciousness, airway protection, and pain control meet discharge criteria. It is staffed and equipped to manage early postoperative complications.

A standardized scoring tool that rates activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation to determine readiness for discharge from the recovery area. Higher total scores indicate safer recovery.

Nausea and vomiting occurring after surgery and anesthesia, driven by anesthetic agents, pain, patient factors, and surgical type. It is prevented and treated with antiemetics and by minimizing risk factors.

A pain management strategy that combines drugs from different classes and non-drug techniques acting by different mechanisms, to improve pain relief while reducing the dose and side effects of any single agent.

A method in which the patient self-administers small doses of an analgesic, usually intravenously, through a programmable pump with lockout intervals, allowing individualized pain control while limiting overdose risk.

An intravenous fluid containing small dissolved molecules such as saline or balanced electrolyte solutions that cross capillary membranes freely, expanding the interstitial and intravascular spaces rather than staying in the blood.

An intravenous fluid containing large molecules such as albumin or starches that remain in the intravascular space longer than crystalloids, producing greater volume expansion per milliliter but with specific risks.

The intravenous administration of donor blood components, such as packed red cells, plasma, or platelets, to correct anemia, coagulopathy, or severe loss. It requires correct identification, monitoring, and reaction management.

An adverse response to transfused blood, ranging from fever and allergic urticaria to acute hemolysis, lung injury, or sepsis. Suspected reactions require stopping the transfusion and immediate evaluation.

A structured team communication tool used before induction, before incision, and before leaving the operating room to confirm patient identity, procedure, allergies, equipment, and other critical safety steps.

The set of practices, including hand hygiene, sterile technique, barrier precautions, and equipment cleaning, that reduce transmission of microorganisms to patients and staff in the perioperative setting.