A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has an epidural hematoma following a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following is an expected finding for this client?

Drainage of clear ﬂuid from the ears

Alternating periods of alertness and unconsciousness

Narrowing pulse pressure

Extensive bruising in the mastoid area

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A: Drainage of clear ﬂuid from the ears is not an expected finding for a client who has an epidural hematoma, but rather a sign of a basilar skull fracture, which is a diﬀerent type of head injury. The clear ﬂuid is cerebrospinal ﬂuid (CSF), which leaks from the brain through the fractured skull.

Choice B: Alternating periods of alertness and unconsciousness is an expected finding for a client who has an epidural hematoma, because it indicates a rapid increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) due to bleeding between the dura mater and the skull. The client may have a brief loss of consciousness at the time of injury, followed by a lucid interval, and then a rapid deterioration of mental status.

Choice C: Narrowing pulse pressure is not an expected finding for a client who has an epidural hematoma, but rather a sign of increased ICP due to any cause. Pulse pressure is the diﬀerence between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. As ICP rises, it compresses the brainstem and causes bradycardia and hypertension, resulting in a decreased pulse pressure.

Choice D: Extensive bruising in the mastoid area is not an expected finding for a client who has an epidural hematoma, but rather a sign of a basilar skull fracture, which is a diﬀerent type of head injury. The bruising is also known as Batle's sign, and it occurs due to blood pooling behind the ear.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because hypervolemia is a condition of excess ﬂuid volume in the body. A client who has an extensive burn injury is more likely to have hypovolemia, which is a condition of low ﬂuid volume, due to ﬂuid loss from the damaged skin and capillaries.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because metabolic alkalosis is a condition of high blood pH and high bicarbonate level. A client who has an extensive burn injury is more likely to have metabolic acidosis, which is a condition of low blood pH and low bicarbonate level, due to increased production of lactic acid and ketones from tissue hypoxia and breakdown.

Choice C Reason: This is correct because low hemoglobin is a common laboratory finding in a client who has an extensive burn injury. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A client who has an extensive burn injury may have low hemoglobin due to hemolysis, which is the destruction of red blood cells, or hemorrhage, which is the loss of blood.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because hyperkalemia is a condition of high blood potassium level. A client who has an extensive burn injury may have hyperkalemia in the early phase of injury, due to cell damage and potassium release, but it is usually transient and followed by hypokalemia, which is a condition of low blood potassium level, due to ﬂuid loss and potassium depletion.

A. pH 7.49, HCO3 24, PaCO2 30 B. pH 7.26, HCO3 24, PaCO2 46 C. pH 7.26, HCO3 14, PaCO2 30 D. pH 7.49, HCO3 30, PaCO2 40

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates respiratory alkalosis, not AKI. Respiratory alkalosis is a condition in which the lungs eliminate too much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the blood, resulting in a low level of CO2 (PaCO2) and a high level of pH. A normal PaCO2 range is 35 to 45 mm Hg, and a normal pH range is 7.35 to 7.45, so a value of 30 mm Hg and 7.49 indicate respiratory alkalosis.

Choice B Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates respiratory acidosis, not AKI. Respiratory acidosis is a condition in which the lungs cannot eliminate enough CO2 from the blood, resulting in a high level of CO2 (PaCO2) and a low level of pH. A value of 46 mm Hg and 7.26 indicate respiratory acidosis.

Choice C Reason: This choice is correct because it indicates metabolic acidosis, which is a common complication of AKI. Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the body produces too much acid or loses too much base, resulting in a low level of bicarbonate (HCO3) and a low level of pH. A normal HCO3 range is 22 to 26 mEq/L, so a value of 14 mEq/L indicates metabolic acidosis. The low PaCO2 value (30 mm Hg) is due to the respiratory compensation mechanism that tries to restore the acid-base balance by increasing the ventilation and eliminating more CO2.

Choice D Reason: This choice is incorrect because it indicates metabolic alkalosis, not AKI. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition in which the body loses too much acid or gains too much base, resulting in a high level of bicarbonate (HCO3) and a high level of pH. A value of 30 mEq/L and 7.49 indicate metabolic alkalosis.

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A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has an epidural hematoma following a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following is an expected finding for this client?

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