Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Practice Test

What is the most effective strategy for managing TLS?

1. Early detection

2. Immediate chemotherapy

3. Prevention

4. Symptomatic treatment

The correct answer is: Prevention

The most effective strategy for managing Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is prevention. This approach is critical because TLS can lead to significant metabolic abnormalities, including hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia, which can be life-threatening. Preventing TLS involves identifying patients at high risk, particularly those with high tumor burdens or rapidly dividing malignancies, and providing prophylactic hydration and the use of medications such as allopurinol or rasburicase to reduce uric acid levels. By proactively lowering the risk before chemotherapy or other triggering treatments, nurses and healthcare providers can mitigate the likelihood of TLS occurring. While early detection, immediate chemotherapy, and symptomatic treatment can play roles in the broader management of patients with TLS, they do not address the root cause as effectively as prevention does. Detection may allow for timely intervention, but it does not stop TLS from developing in the first place. Immediate chemotherapy may be necessary to treat underlying cancer but does not prevent the metabolic consequences that TLS brings. Symptomatic treatment can manage the effects of TLS once it occurs, but this approach does not prevent its onset or the associated risks. Therefore, the emphasis on prevention underscores the need for proactive measures in high-risk patients to