Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies Q 11
You are providing care for a patient with an acute hemorrhage stroke. The patient’s husband has been reading a lot about strokes and asks why his wife did not receive alteplase. What is your best response?
A. “Your wife was not admitted within the time frame that alteplase is usually given.”
B. “This drug is used primarily for patients who experience an acute heart attack.”
C. “Alteplase dissolves clots and may cause more bleeding into your wife’s brain.”
D. “Your wife had gallbladder surgery just 6 months ago and this prevents the use of alteplase.”
Correct Answer: C. “Alteplase dissolves clots and may cause more bleeding into your wife’s brain.”
Alteplase is a clot buster. With a patient who has experienced a hemorrhagic stroke, there is already bleeding into the brain. A drug like alteplase can worsen the bleeding.
Option A: This statement is correct, but it does not address the relevance of the drug to the patient’s diagnosis.
Option B: This is an accurate statement, but it does not clearly explain the effects of the drug on the patient.
Option D: This statement is also accurate about the use of alteplase, but it is not pertinent to this patient’s diagnosis.