Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Anesthesia Technician Test with multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations and hints. Enhance your knowledge and skills for the exam!

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Why is crystalloid solution infused along with red blood cells during surgery?

To decrease blood viscosity
To improve clotting
To restore fluid volume
To enhance oxygen delivery

The correct answer is: To restore fluid volume

Infusing a crystalloid solution along with red blood cells during surgery is primarily done to restore fluid volume. When blood loss occurs during a surgical procedure, it is crucial to replace both the red blood cells and the plasma volume to maintain hemodynamic stability. Crystalloid solutions, such as normal saline or lactated Ringer’s solution, are effective for quickly expanding the intravascular volume. By restoring fluid volume, the body can maintain adequate blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs, which is essential for patient safety during surgery. This approach helps in preventing complications related to low blood volume, such as hypovolemic shock, and ensures that the patient's cardiovascular system can properly support the transfused red blood cells. While decreasing blood viscosity, improving clotting, and enhancing oxygen delivery are important aspects of managing a patient's condition during surgery, the most direct and immediate benefit from infusing crystalloids with red blood cells in the context of acute blood loss is the restoration of fluid volume.