Surgical Pharmacology Flashcards

Which inhalation agent is known to sensitize the myocardium to catecholamine-induced arrhythmias?

Answer: Halothane

Halothane sensitizes the myocardium to epinephrine, making arrhythmias more likely when catecholamines are used.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces surgical bleeding primarily by:

Answer: Inhibiting fibrinolysis by blocking plasminogen activation

Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic that blocks lysine binding sites on plasminogen, preventing fibrin clot breakdown.

Which opioid is commonly delivered via epidural infusion for postoperative pain management and has high lipid solubility?

Answer: Fentanyl

Fentanyl's high lipid solubility allows rapid onset and segmental analgesia when delivered epidurally.

A patient develops malignant hyperthermia intraoperatively. Which drug is the definitive treatment?

Answer: Dantrolene

Dantrolene inhibits calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, directly treating the hypermetabolic crisis of malignant hyperthermia.

What class of drugs is ketorolac (Toradol), frequently used for postoperative pain?

Answer: Non-selective NSAID

Ketorolac is a parenteral NSAID that non-selectively inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes to reduce inflammation and pain.

Which drug is used intraoperatively to reduce secretions and prevent bradycardia during general anesthesia?

Answer: Glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrrolate is an anticholinergic agent that reduces oral and airway secretions and helps prevent vagally mediated bradycardia.

Vasopressin (ADH) may be administered during cardiac surgery primarily to:

Answer: Treat vasodilatory shock by causing vasoconstriction

Vasopressin acts on V1 receptors in vascular smooth muscle to cause vasoconstriction and raise blood pressure in vasodilatory shock.