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Critical Care & Pain Medicine Flashcards

7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Critical Care & Pain Medicine flashcards as text

  1. Which scoring system is specifically validated for predicting ICU mortality in critically ill patients and incorporates 12 physiologic variables measured within the first 24 hours?

    Answer: APACHE II score

    APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) uses 12 physiologic variables from the first 24 hours of ICU admission to generate a score predicting hospital mortality.

  2. A patient with fibromyalgia fails to respond to duloxetine. Which medication is FDA-approved as an alternative pharmacologic therapy for fibromyalgia?

    Answer: Pregabalin

    Pregabalin (Lyrica) is one of only three FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia, alongside duloxetine and milnacipran, and acts by modulating calcium channels.

  3. In the context of critical care nutrition, which strategy is recommended for most mechanically ventilated ICU patients within the first 24-48 hours?

    Answer: Early enteral nutrition at trophic (low) rate, advancing as tolerated

    SCCM/ASPEN guidelines recommend early low-dose (trophic) enteral nutrition within 24-48 hours in mechanically ventilated patients, advancing to goal rate as tolerated.

  4. A patient undergoes a spinal cord stimulator trial for failed back surgery syndrome. Which outcome BEST predicts successful permanent implantation?

    Answer: Pain reduction of >50% during the trial period

    A successful SCS trial is defined as ≥50% pain reduction during the trial period, which is the standard threshold used to justify permanent implantation.

  5. Which electrolyte abnormality is MOST commonly associated with prolonged QT interval and torsades de pointes in critically ill patients receiving QT-prolonging medications?

    Answer: Hypomagnesemia

    Hypomagnesemia potentiates QT prolongation and is a major risk factor for torsades de pointes; IV magnesium is also the treatment of choice for torsades.

  6. A patient with chronic low back pain has a positive discography at L4-L5. Which interventional procedure specifically targets painful degenerative disc disease at that level?

    Answer: Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET)

    IDET (intradiscal electrothermal therapy) is specifically designed to treat discogenic pain by heating the disc annulus to coagulate nociceptive fibers and reinforce the annular wall.

  7. In ICU delirium management, which non-pharmacologic intervention has the STRONGEST evidence for prevention?

    Answer: Early mobilization and reorientation protocols (ABCDE bundle)

    Non-pharmacologic multicomponent interventions including early mobility, cognitive reorientation, sleep promotion, and family engagement (ABCDE bundle) have the strongest evidence for ICU delirium prevention.