Author Question: A patient is admitted to the hospital with severe dehydration and also has decreased albumin levels. ... (Read 49 times)

tsand2 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient is admitted to the hospital with severe dehydration and also has decreased albumin levels. What effect will the patient's current status have if a prescribed dose of phenytoin (Dilantin) is administered?

A) Potentially toxic serum level
B) Reduced serum level
C) Increased seizure activity
D) Thromboembolism

Question 2

A patient is being administered phenylephrine in an outpatient clinic. Which of the following conditions requires that phenylephrine be administered cautiously?

A) Cataracts
B) Hypothyroidism
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Hypertension

yuyiding · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Feedback:
Phenytoin is highly bound to plasma proteins and only a fraction is not bound to albumin; hypoalbuminemia will result in toxic serum levels of phenytoin. A reduced serum level of phenytoin will not be seen with hypoalbuminemia. The patient will not suffer from increased seizure activity. The patient will not suffer from thromboembolism.

Answer to Question 2

D
Feedback:
Adrenergic mydriatics should be used cautiously in patients with hypertension, cardiac dysrhythmias, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and hyperthyroidism. Patients with cataracts, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus can safely be administered phenylephrine.