A 20-year-old patient undergoes a thoracic vertebral stabilization procedure six hours after sustaining an acute transection of the spinal cord at T4. The risks of general anesthesia are greater in this patient than in a patient with an intact spinal cord because of
(A) autonomic hyperreflexia
(B) increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictor agents
(C) increased venous capacitance
(D) interruption of cardiac sympathetic reflexes
(E) hyperkalemia induced by succinylcholine
C
Which of the following is a cardiorespiratory effect of epidural block to a T4 sensory level?
A 70-year-old patient is shivering and has chest pain in the PACU following a cholecystectomy. Heart rate is 120 bpm, and blood pressure is 220/120 mmHg. SpO2 is 97% at an FiO2 of 0.4. An ECG shows ST-T wave changes, which are not affected by intravenous administration of nitroglycerin. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
A morbidly obese patient is to undergo gastric stapling during general anesthesia. Following preoxygenation and induction, the oxygen saturation decreases after 40 seconds of laryngoscopy and attempted intubation. The rapid onset of arterial desaturation is most likely due to
You are asked to evaluate a 2000-g male infant three hours after vaginal delivery because of a respiratory rate of 50/min, pulse rate of 115 bpm, and the following arterial blood gas values while breathing room air: PaO2 64 mmHg, PaCO2 43 mmHg, and pH 7.33. His mother received meperidine 75 mg two hours before delivery. Appropriate management includes
(A) administration of naloxone 50 mcg intramuscularly
(B) increasing the FiO2 to 0.4
(C) intubation and mechanical ventilation at an FiO2 of 0.5
(D) administration of oxygen 50% with 5 cm H2O continuous positive airway pressure