Start practicing

Anesthesia · single question

How many carpules of local anesthetic WITH epinephrine are safe to administer to a COPD patient?

  1. No limit — based on body weight only
  2. 2 carpules (maximum 0.04mg epi)
  3. 4 carpules
  4. 7 carpules
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. 2 carpules (maximum 0.04mg epi)

  • A. ❌ COPD patients require epinephrine dose restriction independent of body weight.
  • B. ✅ Correct. COPD patients are treated as cardiac patients (ASA III-IV) with epinephrine limited to 0.04mg. Each 1.8mL carpule of 1:100,000 epinephrine contains 0.018mg epi. Max: 0.04 ÷ 0.018 ≈ 2 carpules maximum.
  • C. ❌ 4 carpules = ~0.072mg epinephrine — exceeds the 0.04mg limit.
  • D. ❌ 7 carpules would deliver ~0.126mg epinephrine — far exceeding the safe limit for COPD/cardiac patients.

Practice Anesthesia questions Anesthesia study notes

More Anesthesia practice questions