Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia (Pcea) Post-test
Test your knowledge on PCEA.
- 1.
Prior to ambulating a patient with a PCEA, you should:
- A.
Assess their lower extremities for any further changes in sensory/ motor function and notify the anesthesiologist of his symptoms, i.e., heaviness, numbness, or other changes.
- B.
Stop the epidural infusion prior to ambulating the patient
- C.
Not worry about these symptoms
- D.
Notify the anesthesiologist immediately
Correct Answer
A. Assess their lower extremities for any further changes in sensory/ motor function and notify the anesthesiologist of his symptoms, i.e., heaviness, numbness, or other changes.Explanation
Prior to ambulating a patient with a patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), it is important to assess their lower extremities for any changes in sensory or motor function. This is because the epidural infusion can cause numbness, heaviness, or other changes in the lower extremities. These symptoms may indicate complications such as nerve damage or spinal cord compression. Therefore, it is crucial to notify the anesthesiologist immediately so that appropriate action can be taken to ensure the safety of the patient. Stopping the epidural infusion may also be necessary depending on the severity of the symptoms.Rate this question:
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- 2.
When a patient is receiving PCEA infusion:
- A.
Anticoagulants may be given without the anesthesiologist’s consent
- B.
Systemic narcotics need not be consented by the anesthesiologist
- C.
The surgeon or anesthesiologist will specify the exact time when anticoagulants can begin after catheter removal
- D.
None of the above
- E.
All of the above
Correct Answer
C. The surgeon or anesthesiologist will specify the exact time when anticoagulants can begin after catheter removalExplanation
During a patient's PCEA (Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia) infusion, the administration of anticoagulants requires the consent of the anesthesiologist. Systemic narcotics, on the other hand, do not require the anesthesiologist's consent. However, when it comes to the initiation of anticoagulants after catheter removal, the exact timing will be specified by either the surgeon or the anesthesiologist. Therefore, the correct answer is "the surgeon or anesthesiologist will specify the exact time when anticoagulants can begin after catheter removal."Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which one do you like? 1. If an epidural catheter is inserted at the bedside on the unit,
- A.
The epidural cart/ bag must be present
- B.
The anesthesiologist tech must be present to support placement
- C.
The anesthesiologist will remain at the bedside until the patient is stable
- D.
None of the above
- E.
All of the above except D
Correct Answer
E. All of the above except DExplanation
The correct answer is "All of the above except D". This means that all of the statements mentioned in options A, B, and C are true, except for option D. This implies that if an epidural catheter is inserted at the bedside on the unit, the epidural cart/bag must be present, the anesthesiologist tech must be present to support placement, and the anesthesiologist will remain at the bedside until the patient is stable.Rate this question:
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- 4.
During your shift you need to assess and document the following :
- A.
Site & dressing condition, flow/patency, & safety assessment Q shift; vital signs, pain, neurological, & respiratory assessment, adverse effects, & verification of settings (and EtCO2 If ordered) Q4H
- B.
Site & dressing condition, flow/patency, & safety assessment Q shift, vital signs, pain, neurological, & respiratory assessment, adverse effects, & verification of settings (and EtCO2 If ordered) Q8H
- C.
PCEA charting is the same as PCA charting
- D.
Site & dressing condition, flow/patency, & safety assessment Q8H, vital signs, EtCO2, pain, neurological, & respiratory assessment, adverse effects, & verification of settings (and EtCO2 if ordered) Q2H
Correct Answer
A. Site & dressing condition, flow/patency, & safety assessment Q shift; vital signs, pain, neurological, & respiratory assessment, adverse effects, & verification of settings (and EtCO2 If ordered) Q4HExplanation
The correct answer is the first option because it includes all the necessary assessments that need to be done during the shift. It mentions the assessment of the site and dressing condition, flow/patency, and safety. It also includes the assessment of vital signs, pain, neurological status, respiratory status, adverse effects, and verification of settings. Additionally, it mentions the need to check EtCO2 if it is ordered. This option covers all the important assessments that need to be documented during the shift.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Signs and symptoms that may be observed during an epidural emergency are:
- A.
Diminished or loss of consciousness
- B.
Respiratory distress or arrest
- C.
Cardiac arrest
- D.
Severe symptomatic hypotension
- E.
A & B only
- F.
All of the above (A,B,C,D)
Correct Answer
F. All of the above (A,B,C,D)Explanation
During an epidural emergency, various signs and symptoms may be observed. These include diminished or loss of consciousness, respiratory distress or arrest, cardiac arrest, and severe symptomatic hypotension. The correct answer, "All of the above (A,B,C,D)," indicates that all of these signs and symptoms may be present during an epidural emergency.Rate this question:
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- 6.
A sudden increase in a patient’s sedation level may be due to the migration of the epidural catheter into the spinal space.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
A sudden increase in a patient's sedation level may be due to the migration of the epidural catheter into the spinal space. This is because the epidural catheter is designed to deliver medication into the epidural space, which is outside the spinal space. If the catheter migrates into the spinal space, it can result in a higher concentration of medication reaching the spinal cord, leading to increased sedation levels.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Apr 16, 2014Quiz Created by
Joe Powers
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