Certified Transport Registered Nurse Certification Practice Exam

What is a contraindication for the use of succinylcholine?

1. Age over 60

2. Recent stroke or spinal cord injury

3. Hypotension

4. Asthma

The correct answer is: Recent stroke or spinal cord injury

Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocker commonly used for rapid sequence intubation and surgical procedures due to its quick onset and short duration. However, it has specific contraindications that must be considered for patient safety. In the case of a recent stroke or spinal cord injury, the use of succinylcholine can provoke potentially dangerous complications. These conditions can lead to a phenomenon known as hyperkalemia, where there is an excess of potassium in the blood. Following a stroke or spinal injury, the body can have an increase in extracellular potassium, which can be exacerbated by the administration of succinylcholine. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmias or even cardiac arrest in sensitive patients. While age over 60, hypotension, and asthma may pose certain risks during the administration of succinylcholine, they do not directly contraindicate its use in the same critical manner that a recent stroke or spinal cord injury does. Age can influence drug metabolism and response, hypotension may complicate anesthesia but does not outright prevent succinylcholine's use, and asthma is more related to issues with airway management rather than a direct physiological response to the medication itself. Thus, the clear contraindication linked to severe complications stands