CBRN CBRN Nutrition & Metabolic Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of indirect calorimetry in burn patient care?
- Measure respiratory rate
- Calculate fluid balance
- Monitor cardiac output
- Determine actual resting energy expenditure (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Determine actual resting energy expenditure
Indirect calorimetry measures oxygen consumption and CO2 production to calculate actual resting energy expenditure, enabling precise caloric goals.
Question 2: Which complication can result from overfeeding burn patients with excessive carbohydrates?
- Hypokalemia
- Hypocalcemia
- Hepatic steatosis and CO2 retention (Correct answer)
- Metabolic alkalosis
Correct answer: Hepatic steatosis and CO2 retention
Excess carbohydrates are converted to fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis) and produce excess CO2, worsening respiratory status in burn patients.
Question 3: Which trace element is commonly depleted in burn patients due to losses through wound exudate and is critical for wound healing?
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Phosphorus
- Zinc (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Zinc
Zinc is lost through burn wound exudate and its deficiency impairs wound healing, immune function, and protein synthesis.
Question 4: Which medication used in burn care has been shown to reduce the hypermetabolic response and preserve lean body mass?
- Morphine
- Furosemide
- Vancomycin
- Oxandrolone (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Oxandrolone
Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, promotes protein synthesis, reduces hypermetabolism, and preserves lean body mass in burn patients.
Question 5: In a burn patient with a 40% TBSA burn, how does severe protein catabolism typically manifest on laboratory evaluation?
- Decreased BUN
- Elevated serum albumin
- Increased muscle mass
- Negative nitrogen balance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Negative nitrogen balance
Massive protein catabolism causes negative nitrogen balance where nitrogen losses through urine and wounds exceed nitrogen intake, leading to muscle wasting.
Question 6: What is the role of glutamine supplementation in burn patients?
- To reduce fluid losses
- To lower blood glucose
- To prevent hypertension
- To fuel enterocytes and immune cells, supporting gut barrier integrity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To fuel enterocytes and immune cells, supporting gut barrier integrity
Glutamine is the preferred fuel for intestinal enterocytes and immune cells; supplementation supports gut barrier integrity and immune function during the hypermetabolic state.
CBRN CBRN Nutrition & Metabolic Support 2
What is the primary purpose of indirect calorimetry in burn patient care?