Biomedical Safety and Red Flags Flashcards
7 cards from real NCCAOM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Biomedical Safety and Red Flags flashcards as text
A patient is taking daily low-dose aspirin (81 mg) for cardiovascular prevention. Which needling precaution is most appropriate?
Answer: Use finer gauge needles, apply pressure after withdrawal, and monitor for hematoma
Aspirin impairs platelet aggregation; using finer needles and applying post-needle pressure reduces hematoma risk without requiring treatment refusal.
Which herbal supplement is most known for significantly increasing the risk of bleeding when a patient is also undergoing acupuncture?
Answer: Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba has well-documented antiplatelet effects that can increase bleeding risk, especially relevant when combined with needle therapy.
A patient with an implanted cardiac pacemaker presents for acupuncture. Which modality is absolutely contraindicated?
Answer: Electroacupuncture with electrical stimulation
Electrical current from electroacupuncture can interfere with pacemaker function and is absolutely contraindicated in patients with implanted cardiac devices.
A cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy presents for acupuncture. Which laboratory value is most critical to review before proceeding with needling?
Answer: Platelet count to assess bleeding risk
Chemotherapy commonly causes thrombocytopenia; a platelet count below 50,000/µL significantly increases bleeding risk and may contraindicate needling.
A patient taking warfarin (INR currently 3.8) presents for acupuncture. The safest approach is:
Answer: Defer treatment and advise the patient to have INR rechecked, as it is above therapeutic range
An INR of 3.8 is above the typical therapeutic range (2–3), indicating excessive anticoagulation and significantly elevated bleeding risk requiring medical consultation.
A diabetic patient begins shaking, sweating profusely, and feeling confused during an acupuncture treatment. The most likely cause and first action is:
Answer: Hypoglycemia — remove needles and provide fast-acting sugar immediately
Diaphoresis, trembling, and confusion in a diabetic patient indicate hypoglycemia; removing needles and providing glucose is the immediate priority.
Which class of medications poses the greatest risk of serious complications if the acupuncturist performs deep needling near major vessels?
Answer: Anticoagulants (heparin, warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants)
Anticoagulants impair clot formation, so accidental vessel puncture during deep needling can cause significant or uncontrolled internal bleeding.