When considering the pharmacologic management of a patient who has sustained a traumatic head injury, the nurse can anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications to manage increases in intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Nitroprusside
Furosemide
3% Normal Saline
Norepinephrine
The Correct Answer is C
A. Nitroprusside is a vasodilator and is not used for managing ICP; it can increase intracranial pressure if not carefully monitored.
B. Furosemide is a diuretic but is less effective for ICP reduction compared to hypertonic saline or mannitol.
C. Hypertonic saline (3% Normal Saline) is used to reduce intracranial pressure by drawing fluid out of the brain tissue and into the bloodstream, which can help prevent cerebral edema.
D. Norepinephrine is a vasopressor and is not used specifically to manage intracranial pressure.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Abnormal sensory sensations such as tingling may be associated with the aura phase of a seizure but are not typically observed postictally.
B. Yellowing of the skin is usually indicative of jaundice, unrelated to seizure activity or the postictal state.
C. Itching of the eyes is unrelated to seizure activity and would not typically be documented in the context of postictal observations.
D. The postictal state is characterized by drowsiness, confusion, and other altered mental statuses that follow a seizure. This period can vary in duration depending on the patient and seizure type.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Chronic head injury patients often struggle with processing multiple pieces of information simultaneously due to cognitive limitations.
B. Activities requiring complex strategy, like chess, are typically challenging shortly after admission and not a realistic expectation.
C. Difficulty with planning and organizing thoughts and behaviors is a common cognitive deficit in patients with chronic head injury due to impaired executive function, often resulting from damage to the frontal lobe.
D. While non-compliance can occur, it is less predictable and may not be directly linked to chronic head injury itself.