Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification (CNN) Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Charcoal hemoperfusion is a medical procedure that uses activated charcoal to adsorb certain toxins and drugs from the bloodstream. It is particularly effective for substances that are highly lipid-soluble and have a low molecular weight, allowing them to bind effectively to the charcoal surface.

The correct answer, herbicides, are often composed of various chemical compounds that can be effectively removed from the blood using charcoal hemoperfusion. Many herbicides are designed to inhibit specific biochemical pathways in plants and can also possess toxic properties to humans, making their rapid removal from circulation crucial.

The other substances listed—antibiotics, vitamin D, and antidepressants—vary in their properties. Some antibiotics may not bind well to charcoal, meaning hemoperfusion might not significantly reduce their levels in the bloodstream. Vitamin D, being a fat-soluble vitamin, may not efficiently adsorb to charcoal compared to herbicides. Antidepressants, while they can sometimes be treated with charcoal, often have variable binding characteristics and may not be as effectively treated with hemoperfusion as herbicides.

These characteristics highlight why herbicides are the ideal candidates for treatment through charcoal hemoperfusion, as they are more likely to be effectively removed by this method, thereby reducing toxicity and improving patient outcomes in cases of