Question

A patient with Graves' disease is prepared for surgery with drug therapy consisting of 4 weeks of propylthiouracil (PTU) and 10 days of iodine before surgery. When teaching the patient about the drugs, the nurse explains that the drugs are given preoperatively to

a. eliminate the risk for tetany during the postoperative period.
b. decrease the risk of hypometabolism during and after the surgery.
c. normalize metabolism and decrease the size and vascularity of the gland.
d. assist in differentiating the thyroid and parathyroid glands during surgery.

Answer 1

The preoperative drugs for Graves' disease surgery, propylthiouracil, and iodine, are meant to normalize metabolism and reduce the gland's size and vascularity, not to eliminate tetany risk or differentiate thyroid and parathyroid glands. The correct option is c. normalize metabolism and decrease the size and vascularity of the gland.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medication regimen before surgery for a patient with Graves' disease aims to achieve a stable and safer state for the operation. The combination of propylthiouracil (PTU) and iodine therapy is prescribed preoperatively. PTU, a thiourea derivative, works by inhibiting thyroperoxidase, which is crucial in the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

This effect helps in lowering hormone levels and normalizing metabolism. Moreover, iodine helps to decrease the size and vascularity of the thyroid gland. Therefore, when explaining to the patient, the nurse would emphasize that the drugs are given preoperatively to 'normalize metabolism and decrease the size and vascularity of the gland.'The correct option is c. normalize metabolism and decrease the size and vascularity of the gland.