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USMLE · Question #571
USMLE Question #571: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation
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Question
After being severely beaten and sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen, a 42-year-old woman undergoes resection of a perforated small bowel. During the operation, plastic reconstruction of facial fractures, and open reduction and internal fixation of the left femur are also done. Thirty-six hours postoperatively, she is awake but not completely alert. She is receiving intravenous morphine via a patient-controlled pump. She says that she needs the morphine to treat her pain, but she is worried that she is becoming addicted. She has no history of substance use disorder. She drinks one to two glasses of wine weekly. Which of the following initial actions by the physician is most appropriate?
Options
- AReassure the patient that her chance of becoming addicted to narcotics is minuscule
- BMaintain the morphine, but periodically administer intravenous naloxone
- CSwitch the patient to oral acetaminophen as soon as she can take medication orally
- DSwitch the patient to intramuscular lorazepam
- ESwitch the patient to intravenous phenobarbital
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