Surgical Tech Practice Exam

Which medication is utilized to prevent vasospasm of vessels during cardiac surgery?

1. Heparin

2. Topical papaverine

3. Aspirin

4. Warfarin

The correct answer is: Topical papaverine

Topical papaverine is the medication utilized to prevent vasospasm of vessels during cardiac surgery. Its function as a smooth muscle relaxant allows it to directly dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of vasospasm and ensuring adequate blood flow during and after the surgical procedure. This is particularly important in cardiac surgery, where maintaining optimal perfusion to the heart is critical. While other medications like heparin, aspirin, and warfarin are important in the context of cardiac surgery, they serve different purposes. Heparin is primarily an anticoagulant used to prevent blood clotting during surgery. Aspirin functions as an antiplatelet agent, mainly to reduce the risk of thrombotic events, such as heart attacks. Warfarin is used for long-term anticoagulation therapy to manage and prevent thromboembolic events but is not specifically administered during surgery for the purpose of preventing vasospasm. In summary, the unique role of topical papaverine in directly preventing vasospasm distinguishes it from the other medications, which focus on anticoagulation and platelet inhibition rather than muscle relaxation and vascular dilation.