Cardiothoracic & Vascular Anesthesia

First-line vasopressor for hypotension during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) weaning with low SVR and adequate contractility?

Heparin dosing for CPB initiation (typical adult) and ACT target?

Heparin resistance on pump is best treated with:

Standard protamine dosing to reverse heparin after CPB (initial estimate)?

Sudden profound hypotension, pulmonary hypertension, and RV failure during protamine administration suggests:

In severe aortic stenosis (AS) intraoperatively, the most appropriate vasopressor is:

Hemodynamic goals for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM):

Preferred induction for cardiac tamponade:

Which valve lesion benefits most from faster HR and lower afterload intraop?

Primary TEE view to assess LV function quickly during noncardiac hypotension on pump standby?

Best management of refractory hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation (OLV)?

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is blunted by:

Most appropriate tidal volume during OLV (lung-protective)?

Best device to isolate the lung for difficult airway or tracheostomy?

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA): intraoperative BP goal during cross-clamp?

Best anesthetic technique for CEA to allow neurologic monitoring without advanced monitors?

Aortic cross-clamp placement proximal to celiac axis causes which immediate hemodynamic change?

After aortic cross-clamp release, expect:

Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair—key strategy to prevent spinal cord ischemia:

Tranexamic acid (TXA) usage in cardiac surgery primarily reduces:

Off-pump CABG (OPCAB) vs on-pump: which statement is TRUE?

Acute right ventricular failure after CPB separation—best initial inotrope/vasopressor combination?

CABG conduit with best long-term patency to LAD:

Most common cause of post-CPB coagulopathy early after reversal?

Suspected HIT in cardiac patient (platelet drop 50% on day 5, thrombosis). Immediate step?

Best management for massive air embolism into the arterial line during cardiac surgery?

Acute ischemic ST changes during OPCAB distal anastomosis—first step?

Post-lobectomy OLV patient develops refractory hypoxemia; best surgical-side maneuver?

Pulmonary hypertension undergoing noncardiac thoracic case—avoid:

Ideal anesthetic for severe mitral stenosis (MS) with pulmonary hypertension?

Indication for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) perioperatively:

Best immediate treatment for massive hemoptysis intraop during lung surgery?

Mediastinal mass anesthesia principle:

Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) vs open AAA—most accurate?

During CEA, sudden contralateral weakness after unclamping best initial action?

Risk factor most associated with spinal cord ischemia after thoracic aortic repair:

When separating from CPB, low MAP with good LV function and low SVR suggests:

Which anticoagulant is preferred for CPB in patients with HIT?

Postpneumonectomy position in ICU to protect remaining lung and stump?

Most reliable early sign of cardiac tamponade after cardiac surgery in ICU?

On intraoperative TEE, which finding most strongly indicates an acute Stanford type A aortic dissection requiring emergent surgery?

During carotid endarterectomy with awake regional anesthesia, which stump pressure most commonly prompts shunt placement (institution-dependent)?

In which situation is a RIGHT-sided double-lumen tube preferred, and what is its key risk?

Best analgesic strategy for an open posterolateral thoracotomy (no contraindications)?

Which hemodynamic principle is MOST important for anesthetic management of a patient with a continuous-flow LVAD?

Intraoperative cardiovascular collapse from massive pulmonary embolism when systemic thrombolysis is contraindicated—best definitive strategy?

Which factor increases the risk of severe protamine reaction after CPB reversal?

What is recommended to prevent perioperative spasm of a radial-artery graft during CABG?