CHS Pharmacology & Medication Management 5

Question 1

A patient receiving intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for diabetic retinopathy is referred for HBO for a diabetic foot wound. The primary consideration is:

Accepted Answer

Anti-VEGF therapy may theoretically counteract HBO-stimulated angiogenesis

Answer

Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF agent, and VEGF induction is one mechanism by which HBO promotes wound healing angiogenesis, creating a theoretical pharmacological conflict.

Question 2

In decompression sickness (DCS) management, adjunctive aspirin therapy is sometimes used because it:

Accepted Answer

Inhibits platelet aggregation triggered by inert gas bubbles at vessel walls

Answer

Nitrogen bubbles activate platelet aggregation and inflammatory cascades at vessel walls; aspirin's anti-platelet effect helps reduce this secondary vascular injury in DCS.

Question 3

NSAIDs are sometimes given to divers with decompression sickness primarily to address:

Accepted Answer

Inflammatory and pain components of bubble-mediated tissue injury

Answer

NSAIDs target the inflammatory cascade triggered by bubble formation and ischemia-reperfusion injury in DCS, providing adjunctive anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefit.

Question 4

A diabetic patient's blood glucose drops to 55 mg/dL at 60 minutes into a 90-minute HBO session. The correct initial action is:

Accepted Answer

Signal to abort the session and treat hypoglycemia before completing the treatment

Answer

Symptomatic or severe hypoglycemia requires aborting the HBO session immediately because untreated hypoglycemia poses greater immediate risk than an incomplete treatment.

Question 5

Lithium carbonate used for bipolar disorder poses a concern in HBO therapy because:

Accepted Answer

It lowers the seizure threshold and has a narrow therapeutic index with pressure-related fluid shifts

Answer

Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index and lowers seizure threshold; fluid shifts during compression can alter lithium distribution and increase CNS toxicity risk.

(CHS) Certified Hypertension Specialist Practice Test

(CHS) Certified Hypertension Specialist Practice Test

CHS Pharmacology & Medication Management 5