Recent questions tagged surgical

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning carbon dioxide kinetics? a. The amount of carbon dioxide produced is equivalent to the amount of oxygen consumed b. Carbon dioxide levels ... tissues d. The amount of carbon dioxide excreted is a function of ventilation of perfused alveoli

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d The total amount of carbon dioxide produced by systemic metabolism is roughly equivalent to the amount of oxygen consumed (100-120 cc/m2/min, 200 cc/min in a typical ... carbon dioxide excreted is a function of ventilation of perfused alveoli (i.e. the alveolar ventilation/min).

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning oxygen delivery? a. The amount of oxygen delivered to peripheral tissues is dependent upon the oxygen content in arterial blood and cardiac ... O2/dL d. Normal systemic oxygen delivery for a typical adult is approximately 1000 cc/min

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d The amount of oxygen that is delivered to peripheral tissues is the product of the oxygen content in arterial blood times the cardiac output. Normally, oxygen content of arterial blood is ... of venous blood is 16 cc/dL. Hence, the normal arterial-venous difference is 4 cc O2/dL

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the outcome in patients with acute renal failure? a. Mortality for ischemic acute tubular necrosis without other organ failure is ... is unlikely d. There is no difference in survival between oliguric and nonoliguric renal failure

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c Survival of patients with acute renal failure is a function of the successful treatment of the primary disease from which the renal failure was derived. The mortality ... is unlikely. Nonoliguric renal failure is usually limited in its extent and is almost always reversible

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning oxygen consumption (O2)? a. O2 is normally 100-120 cc2/m2/min b. Resting O2 is controlled by the level of thyroid and catecholamine ... of oxygen taken up by the pulmonary capillaries d. O2 is dependent on the status of pulmonary function

Last Answer : Answer: a, b Oxygen consumed in the process of metabolism is expressed as the volume of oxygen per minute (O2). O2 is normally 100-120 cc2/m2/min, or 200 cc/min for a typical adult. ... , so we measure O2 across the lung and assume that it is exactly the amount consumed in the systemic metabolism

Description : Phases of multiorgan failure will include: a. Generalized increased capillary permeability b. A hypermetabolic state c. Organ malfunction d. All of the above

Last Answer : Answer: d Clinically the multiple-organ failure patient progresses through well-defined phases. These phases include: Phase 1-a generalized increased capillary permeability resulting in edema, weight gain, ... tissue damage in the lung or brain, the death of the entire organ is likely

Description : Useful steps to optimize systemic oxygen delivery include: a. Maintaining mean arterial blood pressure between 50 and 90 mm Hg b. Optimizing PEEP levels by monitoring mixed venous saturation c. Turning the patient prone d. Sedation or paralysis

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c, d Optimizing systemic oxygen delivery in relationship to oxygen requirement is the primary goal of management. Improving oxygenation of the blood itself by ... sedation, and establishing muscular paralysis decrease oxygen consumption, and decrease the need for oxygen delivery

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the assessment of protein reserve? a. Conventional serum proteins such as albumin and globulin are early indicators of malnutrition b. The ... d. Measurement of urea excretion in urine can be used as a measurement of protein breakdown

Last Answer : Answer: d Since protein is the functional and structural chemical of the body, most nutritional assessment techniques are estimates of protein reserves. The actual nitrogen balance can ... patients convert from reactive to anergic, and reactivity can be restored by nutritional repletion

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning CO2 transfer in the lung? a. Carbon dioxide excretion is a direct function of alveolar ventilation b. Normally end tidal ... d. Positive pressure ventilation under normal airway pressures creates a significant end tidal PaCO2 gradient

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c The amount of carbon dioxide excretion is directly related to alveolar ventilation. While oxygenation is a function of matching blood flow to alveoli, carbon dioxide excretion is ... high (over 30 cm H2O) and the compression volume is a significant component of each exhaled breath

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the pathophysiology of gas exchange? a. Hypoventilation in relation to perfusion can result in an oxygen saturation of less than 100% ... does not occur under normal circumstances d. The normal arterial oxygen saturation should be 100%

Last Answer : Answer: a, b Under normal conditions, red blood cells in the pulmonary capillaries become fully saturated and oxygen dissolves in plasma resulting in blood PO2 of 100 and O2 saturation of 100%. This ... the fact that normal arterial PO2 is 90-100 mm Hg and the normal O2 saturation is 98%

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the treatment of pulmonary interstitial edema? a. Diuresis and blood transfusion is a valuable step b. Salt-poor albumin leaks through the ... a diuretic in this clinical situation d. Isoproterenol is a poor choice as an ionotropic agent

Last Answer : Answer: a Treatment of pulmonary edema has two important goals, the first is to improve oxygenation if it is impaired, and the second is to minimize fibrosis and bacterial infection, which often ... leaks out , the short term effects of expanding blood volume and decrease in edema will appear

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning oxygen kinetics in a critically ill, febrile patient? a. Oxygen consumption will likely exceed three times normal b. The high cardiac ... adequate compensation as long as the oxygen delivery/oxygen consumption rate is greater than 2:1

Last Answer : Answer: b, d In critically ill patients oxygen consumption may be elevated or depressed, but slight to moderate elevations in oxygen consumption is the most common abnormality in critically ill patients. ... however, and the patient will remain stable as long as the ratio is greater than 2:1

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning O2 venous saturation monitoring? a. The normal saturation of mixed venous blood is 50% b. Mixed venous blood obtained ... than fully saturated blood, the difference between arterial and venous saturation corresponds to oxygen extraction

Last Answer : Answer: c, d The relationship between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption is reflected in the amount of oxygen in venous blood. Under normal circumstances, oxygen delivery is 1000 ... and venous saturation corresponds to the oxygen extraction, hence the oxygen delivery/oxygen consumption ratio

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the autoregulation necessary to maintain oxygen consumption and oxygen delivery? a. A change in oxygen consumption is followed by a proportionate ... increase in cardiac output d. The normal ratio of oxygen delivery to consumption is 2:1

Last Answer : Answer: a The relationships between oxygen consumption and oxygen delivery represent one of the most interesting regulation systems in homeostasis. First of all, if one of the three components ... in oxygen consumption. The normal ratio of oxygen delivery to consumption is approximately 5:1

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning methods of nutritional support? a. Optimal results for enteral feedings are achieved with approximately half of calories supplied as ... -50% of calories should be provided as fat emulsion in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, d Most formulas for enteral feeding range from 1.0 to 2 cal/ml and include 3 to 7% protein. Most of the calories are supplied as glucose or sucrose, so that the solutions ... up to 25 to 50% of calories each day as fat emulsion may optimize the delivery of this caloric delivery

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the relationship between cardiac function and effective blood volume? a. A pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 5-10 rules out ... sole purpose of a pulmonary artery catheter is to measure pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac output

Last Answer : Answer: b, c Although physical findings are often adequate to establish a diagnosis and institute management of cardiac failure, direct measurement of filling pressures of the right heart ( ... blood volume is normal, filling pressures are normal, and total body extracellular fluid is excessive

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the multiorgan failure syndrome (MOFS)? a. Changes in the splanchnic and pulmonary microcirculation are critical to the development of MOFS ... d. The nature of MOFS is highly dependent upon the etiology of the underlying problem

Last Answer : Answer: a, c The nature of multiorgan failure syndrome (MOFS) is that of a diffuse cellular injury, developing systemically as a consequence of losing homeostatic control of local ... of microorganism. In noninfectious cases, the response also appears independent of the specific underlying cause

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the treatment of MOFS? a. Prevention and therapy of MOFS requires control of the infectious or inflammatory source b. Restoration of normal ... of the nature of gut injury, total parenteral nutrition is preferred for most patients with MOFS

Last Answer : Answer: a, c The therapy of MOFS is directed towards interrupting the involving pathophysiologic process and providing an optimal physiologic environment for healing and recovery. ... Enteral absorption and processing of nutrients appears superior to TPN and lessens overall complications

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of shock? a. The primary difference between dopamine and dobutamine is the absence of significant a ... b-adrenergic effect, is a particularly useful agent in the treatment of all forms of shock

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c Therapeutic adjustments of intravascular volume (preload) and systemic vascular resistance (afterload) form the basis of the treatment strategies for all ... careful constant monitoring of arterial pressure and repeated hemodynamic measurements with a pulmonary artery catheter

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct concerning the cardiovascular response to shock? a. Changes in cardiac contractile function shift the Frank Starling curve up and down b. ... d. The total circulating blood volume is equally split between the arterial and venous system

Last Answer : Answer: a Central in the general cardiovascular response to shock is the action of the heart itself. The principle determinants of cardiac function in the normal heart are the volume of blood ... Blood flow to the skin is sacrificed early, followed by that to the kidneys and splanchnic viscera

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning hypoadrenal shock? a. In the United States, idiopathic adrenal atrophy (Addison's disease) is the most common cause b. Laboratory ... hypoadrenal shock d. ACTH stimulation test is the diagnostic test of choice to confirm hypoadrenal shock

Last Answer : Answer: b, c, d Shock of a dramatic nature, poorly responsive to resuscitation, may develop as a consequence of adrenal insufficiency. In this country, adrenal insufficiency most ... of an ACTH stimulation test. A significant major cortisol response should be elicited by ACTH administration

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the effects of MOFS? a. Pulmonary dysfunction tends to arise early and may resolve within 7 to 10 days b. Unless the precipitating ... infection, most commonly pulmonary, is a common complication providing a second hit to the patient

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, d Pulmonary dysfunction typically arises early in the development of systemic inflammation and may represent mild relatively localized acute lung injury or it may be a prelude ... is marked by progressive rise in serum bilirubin levels after a latent period of several days

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the physiology of the microvascular system? a. Filtration of capillary fluid into the interstitial and the subsequent reabsorption is ... the arteriolar level d. Adrenergic vasoconstriction can arrest blood flow to an entire capillary bed

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d Exchange of material between the vascular space and the cell of various tissues via the interstitial space is essential for organ viability and occurs at the ... contractions are potent enough that blood flow to entire capillary beds can be arrested by adrenergic vasoconstriction

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning ischemia reperfusion injury? a. During ischemia, ATP degradation results in increased plasma and intracellular levels of ... immunization with antibodies to neutrophil adhesive complex lessen the ischemic/reperfusion microvascular injury

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c, d During the ischemia and hypoperfusion phase, degradation of ATP stores essential to maintain cell integrity and significant loss of diffusible ... either the neutrophil adhesive complex or the endothelial selectins dramatically lessens ischemia/reperfusion microvascular injury

Description : A 68-year-old male who underwent a repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm 5 days ago, develops tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension with cool, pale, mottled cyanotic extremities. He ... use of moderate doses of inotropic agents e. Afterload reduction with nitroprusside is absolutely contraindicated

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, d Intrinsic cardiogenic shock results from failure of the heart as an effective pump. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of myocardial ... hemodynamic monitoring. Infusion of afterload-reducing agents can be administered in conjunction with inotropic support

Description : Which of the following physical findings are associated with the various classes of hemorrhagic shock? a. Mild shock (< 20% blood volume): Pallor, cool extremities, diminished capillary refill and ... ): Systemic hypotension, changes in mental status, tachycardia, oliguria d. All of the above

Last Answer : Answer: a, c PHYSICAL FINDINGS IN HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK* Moderate Mild (40% Blood Volume) Blood Volume) Blood Volume) Pallor Pallor Pallor Cool extremities Cool extremities Cool extremities ... hypotension Mental status changes * Alcohol or drug intoxication may alter physical findings

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct concerning the immunoinflammatory response to shock? a. The anaphylactoxins, C3a and C5a, are products of activation of only the classical pathway ... effects d. Platelet-activating factor can be released by both circulating and fixed tissue cells

Last Answer : Answer: d Inflammatory mediators have recently been recognized as playing a significant role in the clinical manifestations and progression of shock and the development ... increased pulmonary vascular resistance, bronchoconstriction, peripheral vasodilatation, and increased vascular permeability

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning tumor necrosis factor (TNF)? a. TNF is a product of activated macrophages secreted in response to contact with endotoxin or ... completed clinical trials of anti-TNF antibody in septic patients shows a marked improvement in survival

Last Answer : Answer: a, b Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein product of activated macrophages, is secreted in response to contact with endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide, antibody complexes, or ... patients utilizing infusion of monoclonal antibodies to the TNF molecule have shown no overall survival benefit

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning septic shock? a. The clinical picture of gram negative septic shock is specifically different than shock associated with ... mechanisms of intrinsic expansion of the circulating blood volume, exogenous volume resuscitation is necessary

Last Answer : Answer: d The clinical findings in sepsis and septic shock represent the host response to infection. Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, and ... intravascular volume, exogenous volume resuscitation must be provided to restore venous return and ventricular filling

Description : A 32-year-old man suffers a spinal cord injury with a resultant paraplegia in a motorcycle accident. He presents to the emergency room with hypotension. Which of the following statement(s) is/ ... injury will be uncommon d. There is no role for pharmacologic intervention to maintain blood pressure

Last Answer : Answer: c Neurogenic shock results from interruption of sympathetic vasomotor input and develops after spinal cord injury, spinal anesthesia, and severe head injury. Under normal conditions, baseline ... the cause is not neurogenic and search for occult blood loss or cardiogenic causes of shock

Description : A 22-year-old man sustains a single stab wound to the left chest and presents to the emergency room with hypotension. Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning his ... diagnosis of pericardial tamponade d. The placement of bilateral chest tubes will likely resolve the problem

Last Answer : Answer: c Shock from cardiac compression occurs when external pressure on the heart impairs ventricular filling. Because ventricular filling is a function of venous return and myocardial compliance, ... sternotomy. Chest tube placement would not be appropriate as the sole treatment in this patient

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the neuroendocrine responses to shock? a. Sympathetic nerve endings release epinephrine which is responsible for greater than 80% ... injury and sepsis d. The renin-angiotensin axis further augments the sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction

Last Answer : Answer: c, d The neuroendocrine response to shock attempts to achieve restoration of effective blood volume, mobilization of metabolic substrates, and maintenance of central ... . Angiotensin II is an extremely effective vasoconstrictor that further augments sympathetic-mediated vasoconstriction

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the diagnosis and management of hypovolemic shock? a. A fall in hematocrit or hemoglobin always accompanies hemorrhagic shock b. The ... d. Complications are less frequent after treatment of hemorrhagic shock than septic or traumatic shock

Last Answer : Answer: d Hypovolemic shock is readily diagnosed when there is an obvious source of volume loss and overt signs of hemodynamic instability and increased adrenergic output are present. ... response systems and consequences of their disseminated, indiscriminate cellular injury can be quite profound

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the pulmonary response to shock? a. The acute pulmonary vascular response to shock differs markedly from that of systemic vasculature b. The ... elements e. A decrease in lung compliance may result from the loss of type I pneumocytes

Last Answer : Answer: c, d, e Contributing pathophysiologic processes to the pulmonary manifestations of shock include the pulmonary component of the cardiovascular response, disruption of the normal ... injury from mediators of inflammation elaborated elsewhere, and from activated cellular blood elements

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the microvascular and cellular response to shock? a. Osmodically induced mobilization of intracellular fluid is the initial ... d. Abnormal intracellular calcium homeostasis may contribute to the cellular dysfunction of shock

Last Answer : Answer: c, d Moderate hypovolemia results in a relatively rapid spontaneous restitution of intravascular volume through expansion of the plasma space. This plasma expansion by ... potassium pump. Cellular dysfunction also appears to be related to abnormal intracellular calcium homeostasis

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning metabolic derangements in sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome which may follow progressive shock? a. Alterations in glucose ... The serum aromatic amino acids fall rapidly as they are actively used in oxidative metabolism

Last Answer : Answer: b, c A broad spectrum of metabolic abnormalities become apparent in sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome following shock. Disruption of the normal cycles of carbohydrate, ... acetyl coenzyme A. This results in reduced serum level of leucine, isoleucine and valine

Description : Which of the following statement(s) is/are true concerning the various types of shock? a. Traumatic shock is more commonly associated with subsequent organ injury and multiorgan failure ... responds quickly to resuscitation e. Neurogenic shock occurs with the absence of sympathetic activity

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, d, e Classification schemes of shock based on cause have been developed for the seemingly dissimilar processes leading to circulatory collapse and the shock state. ... and pressor agents. The response to exogenous corticosteroids is usually dramatic and potentially life-saving

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning gram-negative bacterial sepsis. a. Mortality due to this condition has almost been eliminated due to therapeutic intervention with antibiotics, aggressive ... sepsis is generally considered a more serious problem than sepsis due to a single organism

Last Answer : Answer: c, e Gram-negative bacterial sepsis is a serious disease process that produces substantial morbidity and mortality in both normal and immunocompromised patients (10% to 20% and ... and most investigators agree that polymicrobial sepsis is more lethal than infection with a single organism

Description : A 67-year-old male presents with an intraabdominal abscess secondary to perforated sigmoid diverticulitis. The following statement(s) is/are true concerning his intraabdominal abscess. a. Culture will ... gram-negative enteric bacilli d. The most common anaerobic islet will be a Bacteroides species

Last Answer : Answer: b, c, d Typically an intraabdominal infection results in perforation of a hollow viscus and the ensuing contamination of a normally sterile peritoneal cavity. The normal ... Bacteroides species (especially B. fragilis, Clostridium), and anaerobic cocci are most consistently isolated

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning host defense mechanisms to intraabdominal infection. a. Bacterial clearance can occur via translymphatic absorption b. Phagocytic activity and bacterial killing can ... may be walled off but are seldom sealed by the omentum and other mobile viscera

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, c The introduction of microorganisms into the normally sterile peritoneal environment invoke several potent specialized host antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Bacterial clearance, ... the contaminated enteric contents walled off, preventing continued soilage of the peritoneal cavity

Description : The treatment of the following patient should include: a. Initial empiric therapy directed against both aerobes and anaerobes b. The addition of anti-fungal therapy in an elderly patient ... therapy is appropriate if the agents selected possess activity against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

Last Answer : Answer: a, e The primary treatment for a perforated viscus is surgical, however antimicrobial therapy is an extremely important adjunct. Empiric antibiotic therapy for secondary ... whereas longer periods are indicated for immunosuppressed patients and with patients with extensive contamination

Description : Antibacterial agents can be classified with regard to their structure, mechanism of action, and activity pattern against various types of bacterial pathogens. Which of the following ... are both bacteriostatic d. Sulfonamides and trimethoprim act synergistically to inhibit purine synthesis

Last Answer : Answer: a, b, d Penicillins, cephalosporins, and monobactams possess a b-lactam ring of some type and act to bind bacterial division plate proteins, thus inhibiting cell wall ... act in different mechanisms to inhibit protein synthesis, therefore two agents in combination act synergistically

Description : New treatment modalities designed to modulate host defense mechanisms that have been demonstrated conclusively to be of benefit include: a. Gut decontamination b. Anti-LPS antibody c. Anti-TNF antibody d. Thymopentin e. None of the above

Last Answer : Answer: e Selective gut decontamination involves the use of orally administered antibiotics that achieve a high intraluminal level directed against gram-negative aerobes and yeast, leaving ... but conclusive evidence that concurrent reduction of infection-related mortality occurs is not available

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning necrotizing fascitis. a. Mortality rates as high as 40% can be expected b. The infection involves only the superficial fascia, sparing the deep ... e. Necrotizing fascitis is most likely to develop in the face of impaired fascial blood supply

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d, e Necrotizing fascitis is an uncommon infection of the deep and superficial fascia that is associated with mortality as high as 40% in many series. ... fulminant and is frequently associated with cellulitis, myositis, fascitis, and bacteremia with attendant high mortality

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning viral infections. a. The most common post-transplantation viral infections are caused by herpes viruses and include CMV and herpes simplex virus ... HSV) infection primarily presents with a mononucleosis-type syndrome with fever, lethargy, and cough

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, Solid organ transplant patients are prone to develop viral infection by virtue of exogenous immunosuppression. The most common post-transplantation viral infections are those ... transplant patient or as painful herpes zoster in patients who have previously developed chicken pox

Description : The initiation of a humoral immune response involves a complex interaction of the antigen, cells and intercellular messengers. Which of the following statement(s) concerning the initiation of the ... various cellular components of the immune system d. An antigen must be a living microorganism

Last Answer : Answer: a, b Stimulation of the immune system occurs after a variety of antigen-presenting cells (B lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells) act to engulf ... polysaccharides), most antigens require coordinated efforts of the various cellular components of the immune system

Description : A 55-year-old renal transplant patient has been hospitalized in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit, receiving a prolonged course of antibiotics following an attack of acute cholecystitis. The ... suggest a dosage reduction in immunosuppressive agents until the infection can be adequately controlled

Last Answer : Answer: a, d Infections due to fungal pathogens have become increasingly common during the past decade, frequently occurring in patients undergoing prolonged hospitalization in the Surgical ... agents should be discontinued until evidence of infection is absolutely controlled or is eradicated

Description : The complement system consists of a series of serum proteins that exist in a quiescent or very low-level state of activation in the uninfected host. Which of the following ... certain complement components serve as chemoattractants to additional cellular components of the host defense mechanism

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d Complement activation can occur through either classic or alternate (properdin) pathways, both of which eventuate in deposition of terminal complement pathway components on the ... and release of lysosomal enzymes that can directly damage certain target tissues, such as the lung

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning initial microbiologic diagnostic techniques. a. Appropriate expeditious transport of specimens to the microbiology laboratory is essential for obtaining accurate ... a 4-to 8-fold increase over the MIC to be considered clinically efficacious.

Last Answer : Answer: a, c, d Because most surgical infections are polymicrobial, specimens should be cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as fungi. Although aerobic and aerotolerant ... fold increase over MIC during the peak serum level have been demonstrated to be clinically efficacious

Description : The following statement(s) is/are true concerning HIV infection. a. Initial screening with ELISA is highly sensitive but can be associated with a false positive rate of 25% b. ... , carinii pneumonia, CMV pneumonitis, Cryptococcus meningitis, and disseminated infection due to atypical mycobacteria

Last Answer : Answer: b, c, d Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a syndrome caused by the human retrovirus (HIV-1) that infects T lymphocytes and causes severe immunosuppression. Individuals who ... to prolong survival when administered early in the course of disease and is considered routine therapy