A patient has a history of clot formation. She is scheduled for ...

[imowrer]

A patient has a history of clot formation. She is scheduled for bowel resection due to colorectal cancer. What anticoagulant agent will be administered prophylactically?
 
  A) Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
  B) Heparin
  C) Warfarin (Coumadin)
  D) Streptokinase (Streptase)

Question 2

A 55-year-old male patient has been living with type 1 diabetes for many years and has begun to experience diabetic nephropathy over the past year.
 
  How will this patient's current health status influence the possible use of pseudoephedrine in the treatment of cold symptoms? A) The patient should monitor his blood glucose levels more frequently when taking pseudoephedrine.
  B) The use of pseudoephedrine is absolutely contraindicated by the fact that the patient has diabetes and takes insulin.
  C) The patient may require a higher-than-average dose of pseudoephedrine because of excess fluid volume secondary to renal failure.
  D) The patient should use caution and will likely require a lower dose of pseudoephedrine because of his impaired renal function.

[Sophiapenny]

Answer to Question 1

B
Feedback:
Prophylactically, low doses of heparin are given to prevent thrombus formation in patients having major abdominal surgery. Acetylsalicylic acid is not used to prevent thrombus in patients having major abdominal surgery. Warfarin takes several days for therapeutic effects to occur; thus it is not used prophylactically to prevent thrombus in a patient with abdominal surgery. Streptokinase promotes thrombolysis and is not used to prevent thrombus.

Answer to Question 2

D
Feedback:
Because pseudoephedrine is excreted primarily via the kidneys, caution in patients with renal impairment is important. It may be necessary to reduce the dosage to avoid potential drug accumulation and drug toxicity. The presence of diabetes warrants caution, but it is not an absolute contraindication.