Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

Which gas is commonly used in neurosurgery?

1. Helium

2. Carbon Dioxide

3. Mannitol

4. Nitrous Oxide

The correct answer is: Mannitol

In neurosurgery, mannitol is utilized primarily for its properties as an osmotic diuretic. It effectively reduces intracranial pressure by drawing fluid out of the brain tissue into the bloodstream, thereby decreasing brain edema. This is critical in neurosurgical procedures where minimizing pressure in the cranial cavity can help improve surgical outcomes and protect brain function. While the other gases mentioned have their uses in different medical applications, they do not serve the specific purpose of managing intracranial pressure in a surgical setting. Helium is not suitable for this context; carbon dioxide might be used for insufflation in some procedures but doesn't have the same impact on intracranial pressure, and nitrous oxide is primarily used for anesthesia rather than directly managing brain edema.