The child is a 2-year-old who fell into a pool. He was retrieved from the pool by a family member but was not breathing. The family member started CPR, and the ambulance brought him to the hospital.
What factors are important in determining the level of hypoxemia that the child may have experienced during the submersion?
Select all that apply.
Temperature of water
The weight of the child
Oxygen concentration of the ambient air
Whether or not anyone witnessed the fall into the pool
The amount of time the child was submerged
Correct Answer : A,E
The level of hypoxemia that the child may have experienced during the submersion depends on several factors, but the most important ones are:
- The **temperature of water**: Cold water can induce a diving reflex, which lowers the heart rate and oxygen consumption, and may protect the brain from hypoxic injury. Cold water can also cause laryngospasm, which prevents water aspiration but also impairs gas exchange.
- The **amount of time the child was submerged**: The longer the submersion, the more severe the hypoxemia and the higher the risk of brain damage and death. The survival rate decreases significantly after 5 minutes of submersion.
The other factors are less relevant or not directly related to the level of hypoxemia:
- The **weight of the child**: This may affect the buoyancy and the ability to float or swim, but not the oxygen consumption or gas exchange during submersion.
- The **oxygen concentration of the ambient air**: This may affect the pre-submersion oxygen saturation, but not the rate of oxygen depletion or gas exchange during submersion.
- The **witnessing of the fall into the pool**: This may affect the time to rescue and resuscitation, but not the level of hypoxemia during submersion.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Decreasing expiratory flow time is not the appropriate intervention in this case. The client's pH and PaCO2 levels suggest respiratory acidosis, which indicates inadequate ventilation. Increasing expiratory flow time might exacerbate the acidosis by reducing ventilation.
Choice C rationale:
Increasing the rate of ventilation (respiratory rate) is a potential intervention to improve the client's acid-base balance. However, it should be done cautiously and under medical supervision to avoid respiratory alkalosis. It is not the first-line intervention in this scenario.
Choice D rationale:
Increasing the ventilator tidal volume may help improve ventilation, but it should also be done under medical guidance to prevent barotrauma. It is not the initial intervention to address the client's respiratory acidosis.
Correct Answer is ["A","C","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and is expected to decrease heart rate by inhibiting calcium influx into cardiac cells, particularly in the SA (sinoatrial) node, where it can slow down the heart's electrical impulses.
Choice B rationale:
Increased contractility is not an expected outcome of verapamil use. In fact, verapamil's main action is to decrease myocardial contractility, making it useful for treating conditions like angina and atrial fibrillation.
Choice C rationale:
Verapamil is known to dilate coronary arteries, which can improve blood flow to the heart muscle and relieve symptoms of angina.
Choice D rationale:
Reduced blood pressure is an expected outcome of verapamil use due to its vasodilatory effects on peripheral blood vessels. This can be beneficial in treating hypertension and angina.
Choice E rationale:
Relieved chest pain is an expected outcome of verapamil use, particularly in the case of variant angina (Prinzmetal's angina), as it helps to relax coronary arteries and reduce coronary artery spasm, which is a common cause of chest pain in this condition.
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