CCT CCT Pharmacology & Cardiac Medications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Adenosine is the drug of choice for terminating which arrhythmia?
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) (Correct answer)
- Ventricular fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Torsades de pointes
Correct answer: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
Adenosine transiently blocks AV nodal conduction, which terminates re-entrant tachycardias that depend on the AV node such as PSVT.
Question 2: ACE inhibitors are beneficial after myocardial infarction primarily because they:
- Reduce ventricular remodeling and decrease afterload (Correct answer)
- Increase heart rate
- Elevate blood pressure
- Promote sodium retention
Correct answer: Reduce ventricular remodeling and decrease afterload
ACE inhibitors block angiotensin II production, reducing afterload and preventing pathological ventricular remodeling that can lead to heart failure after MI.
Question 3: Epinephrine is given during cardiac arrest primarily because it:
- Increases coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure (Correct answer)
- Corrects metabolic acidosis
- Restores normal sinus rhythm directly
- Reduces oxygen demand
Correct answer: Increases coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure
Epinephrine is an alpha-adrenergic agonist that causes vasoconstriction, raising aortic diastolic pressure and improving coronary and cerebral perfusion during CPR.
Question 4: Which of the following is the reversal agent for warfarin anticoagulation in an emergency?
- Vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (Correct answer)
- Protamine sulfate
- Naloxone
- Flumazenil
Correct answer: Vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Vitamin K restores clotting factor synthesis and FFP provides immediate clotting factors to rapidly reverse warfarin anticoagulation.
Question 5: Magnesium sulfate is the treatment of choice for which life-threatening arrhythmia?
- Torsades de pointes (Correct answer)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Right bundle branch block
- Sinus bradycardia
Correct answer: Torsades de pointes
Magnesium sulfate stabilizes the cardiac membrane and is the first-line treatment for torsades de pointes, a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT.
Question 6: Which medication is used to dissolve acute coronary thrombus during an ST-elevation MI when primary PCI is unavailable?
- Alteplase (tPA) (Correct answer)
- Aspirin
- Metoprolol
- Furosemide
Correct answer: Alteplase (tPA)
Alteplase is a thrombolytic agent that activates plasminogen to dissolve fibrin clots, restoring coronary artery perfusion when timely PCI is not possible.
CCT CCT Pharmacology & Cardiac Medications 2
Adenosine is the drug of choice for terminating which arrhythmia?