A 50-year-old patient undergoes subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. In the immediate postoperative period, he has marked hoarseness but no stridor. The most likely cause of the hoarseness is trauma to the
(A) external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
(B) internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
A 68-year-old man has a permanent DVI pacemaker that has been functioning appropriately. Which of the following is most likely to cause conversion to VOO pacing?
(A) Electroconvulsive therapy
(B) Insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter
(C) Placement of a magnet over the pulse generator
The concentration effect is greater with nitrous oxide than with the volatile anesthetics because nitrous oxide
(A) has a lower blood-gas partition coefficient
(B) has less effect on cardiac output (0 has lower lipid solubility
(D) is affected less by ventilation-perfusion mismatch
(E) is used in much higher concentrations
E
The severity of chronic bronchitis is best assessed by measuring
(A) tidal volume
(B) carbon dioxide diffusion capacity
(C) sputum production over 24 hours
(D) forced vital capacity
(E) arterial blood gases
E
Following completion of an ankle block, the patient reports intact sensation on the tips of the toes. Which of the following nerves was blocked inadequately?
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