Pharmacology & Medication Management Flashcards

Ketamine is frequently chosen for burn wound care procedures because it provides:

Answer: Dissociative anesthesia with preservation of airway reflexes and hemodynamic stability

Ketamine provides dissociative anesthesia, analgesia, and amnesia while maintaining airway reflexes and hemodynamic stability, making it ideal for painful burn dressing changes.

In a burn patient receiving systemic antibiotics, which physiological factor most significantly alters drug pharmacokinetics compared to non-burn patients?

Answer: Increased volume of distribution due to massive fluid shifts and edema

Major burns cause massive fluid shifts, edema, and capillary leak, significantly increasing volume of distribution and altering drug pharmacokinetics, often requiring higher or more frequent dosing.

Oxandrolone (an anabolic steroid) is used in severe burn patients primarily to:

Answer: Counteract catabolism and preserve lean body mass

Oxandrolone is an anabolic steroid used in burn patients to counteract the severe catabolism of the hypermetabolic response, preserving lean body mass and improving overall recovery.

Which topical burn wound agent is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with a documented sulfonamide allergy?

Answer: Silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)

Silver sulfadiazine contains a sulfonamide component and is contraindicated in patients with known sulfa allergies due to the risk of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Benzodiazepines and/or melatonin are used in burn ICU patients primarily to address:

Answer: ICU-related anxiety, sleep disturbances, and delirium prevention

Burn ICU patients frequently experience sleep disturbances, anxiety, and delirium; sedative agents like benzodiazepines or melatonin are used to manage these complications and improve patient outcomes.

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been studied in pediatric burn patients to:

Answer: Accelerate wound healing and reduce hospital length of stay

Recombinant human growth hormone has been shown to accelerate wound healing, enhance protein synthesis, and reduce hospital length of stay in pediatric burn patients.

Which anticoagulation strategy is most commonly used in burn patients for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis?

Answer: Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) such as enoxaparin

Low molecular weight heparin (e.g., enoxaparin) is the preferred DVT prophylaxis in burn patients due to predictable pharmacokinetics, no need for frequent monitoring, and effectiveness in the hypercoagulable post-burn state.