Emergency Drugs

Self-Study Examination

Instructions: After studying the text answer the following true/false or multiple choice questions.  Remember, there's only one answer to each question.

1. Which of the following statements is not True regarding emergency drug kit in a dental office?

a) The dentist should include only those drugs he is familiar with.
b) The emergency drug kit should be modified to fit the specific dental practice.
c) For each kind of emergency there should be a variety of drugs that the dentist can choose from.
d) The drug kit should be periodically updated.
e) The emergency drug kit should be used only in a supportive and conservative manner.

2. Emergency oxygen is contraindicated in patients whose respiratory drive is dependent on hypoxemia because of chronically elevated carbon dioxide concentration.

a) True
b) False

3. The incidence of use over a 2-year period of emergency drug kits in a dental office is

a) less than 1%
b) 5%
c) 10%
d) 25%

4. With respect to an emergency drug kit, which of the following statements is True?

a) Generally speaking, the kit should contain more drugs than less.
b) Should contain several drugs in each category.
c) Should include only those drugs familiar to the dentist.
d) The drug kit should be the first line of defense in an emergency.

5. To bring about a significant alteration in hemoglobin saturation in the hypoxemic individual, a ________ increase in oxygen tension is required.

a) modest
b) significant

6. In which of the following instances, the use of epinephrine is contraindicated?

a) cardiac arrest
b) anaphylaxis
c) shock
d) none of the above

7. Epinephrine's actions on the heart include all of the following except

a) increased heart rate
b) increased systolic blood pressure
c) increased diastolic blood pressure
d) increased cardiac output

8. In a rather serious emergency resulting from an acute allergic reaction, which is the most effective route of administration for epinephrine?

a) subcutaneously
b) intramuscularly
c) intravenously

9. During an episode of angina pectoris in a dental office, which of the following two sources of nitroglycerin would you use?

a) patient's own supply
b) emergency kit in the dental office

10. As a vasodilator, amyl nitrite has one of the following advantages over nitroglycerin:

a) longer duration of action
b) longer shelf life
c) less side effects

11. It is not mandatory that primary support drugs be included in the emergency drug kit.

a) True
b) False

12. This statement is True of one of the following: They terminate the seizure activity but they also produce sharp and prolonged postseizure depression of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

a) benzodiazepines
b) barbiturates

13. Which of the following is not a drug of choice as a vasopressor in a dental office?

a) epinephrine
b) methoxamine
c) phenylephrine

14. The most valid reason for including an antihypertensive in the emergency drug kit is:

a) The incidence of acute blood pressure elevation is quite common.
b) There are no other means of decreasing blood pressure.
c) The state requires it for general anesthesia permits.
d) All of the above

15. Agents such as epinephrine and isoproterenol that have both ß1 and ß2 agonist properties are more attractive in the management of the acute asthmatic episode than an agent such as albuterol with only the ß2 property.

a) True
b) False

16. If a patient is having an acute allergic reaction, which of the following measures would you not use as a first line of defense?

a) basic life support
b) epinephrine
c) antihistamine
d) corticosteroids

17. Atropine is recommended in the management of

a) bradycardia
b) tachycardia

18. Naloxon is used to reverse opioid-induced respirator depression. Which route of administration gives longer therapeutic action?

a) intravenous
b) intramuscular