Temperature redistribution — FRCA Primary MCQ

Correct answer: E — Hypothermia shifts the oxyhaemoglobin curve left

Anaesthetic vasodilation redistributes heat from core to periphery. Increased preload increases stroke volume through fibre stretch is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. Ventilation of poorly perfused alveoli increases dead space is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. Renin rises with reduced afferent arteriolar pressure is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. The loop of Henle creates the medullary osmotic gradient is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. In Primary FRCA physiology, the correct answer is usually the variable that best explains the observed change in the anaesthetised patient.

Reference: West's Respiratory Physiology; Ganong Review of Medical Physiology; Primary FRCA textbooks