Chronic Disease Discussion Questions Related

Review Chronic Disease Discussion Questions related questions and content

Your junior trainee has been in theatre for 5 h with a patient undergoing a femorodistal bypass procedure. He is yawning and seems withdrawn. The trainee's fatigue is likely to be improved by:

  • A. Imbibing one 60 ml shot of espresso coffee.
  • B. Taking a 1-h nap.
  • C. Increasing the brightness of the theatre lighting.
  • D. Walking around and chatting to other members of staff.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Fatigue during long procedures impairs performance. A 60 ml espresso shot (50-100 mg caffeine) boosts alertness temporarily (20-30 minutes onset), but its effect wanes after 5 hours of sustained effort. A 1-hour nap restores cognitive function and vigilance significantly, countering sleep pressure per sleep research (e.g., NASA nap studies), with benefits lasting hours. Bright lighting enhances alertness via circadian stimulation but is less effective mid-fatigue. Walking and chatting provide a break, mildly boosting arousal, but lack restorative depth. Microsleeps signal severe fatigue, worsening performance. A nap's superiority lies in addressing accumulated sleep debt, critical in high-stakes settings like surgery, offering sustained recovery over stimulants or environmental tweaks.