The client was admitted to the medical floor. Upon arrival, the client was assessed: He is difficult to arouse but follows commands. He has a peripheral IV which is infusing normal saline at 145 mL/hr. No redness or edema at the site. Breath sounds are clear and equal bilaterally. He appears pink and well-perfused.

The client had a tonic-clonic seizure that lasted for 3 minutes and 5 seconds. The client became apneic during the seizure and the oxygen saturation dropped to 48%. The client was manually ventilated at 100% oxygen and padding was placed around the vent for safety. After the seizure, the client was turned to his left for recovery.

The physician comes to the bedside following the seizure and prescribes phenytoin. The PN administers the phenytoin as prescribed.

What are the possible toxic effects of phenytoin that the PN should closely monitor the client for after administration?

Select all that apply

Worsening perineal pain after medication could indicate inadequate pain relief or a potential complication such as infection or hematoma. It is important to reassess the client to determine the cause of the increased pain and take appropriate action before transferring to the postpartum unit.
The other scenarios described in the options may also require attention, but they do not indicate an immediate need for reassessment before transfer:
B. A primigravida who passed a small clot when she sat up on the edge of the bed: Passing small clots is a normal part of the postpartum period, and it may not necessarily require immediate reassessment. However, the PN should monitor for any excessive or large clots and report any concerning findings.
C. A multigravida whose peri-pad is 1⁄2 saturated with lochia rubra after one hour: Lochia rubra is the normal discharge following childbirth, and some saturation of the peri-pad is expected.
However, the PN should continue to monitor the amount and consistency of the lochia and report any significant changes.
D. A multigravida complaining of strong afterbirth pains when breastfeeding: Afterbirth pains, also known as uterine cramps, are common during breastfeeding as the uterus contracts. While discomfort is expected, strong afterbirth pains should be assessed for severity and managed appropriately. The PN should provide comfort measures and assess if the pain is within the expected range or if it requires further evaluation.

Elevations in troponin I and CK-MB levels indicate myocardial damage, which can result from insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease. When the heart muscle is damaged, it can lead to abnormal electrical activity and rhythm disturbances, known as cardiac dysrhythmias. These dysrhythmias can be life-threatening and require immediate attention.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) refers to a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain, which is not directly related to the elevated troponin I and CK-MB levels. Therefore, monitoring neurological vital signs for TIA is not the most significant risk in this case.

Pulmonary embolism, while it is a serious condition, is not directly indicated by the elevated troponin I and CK-MB levels. Lifestyle modifications may be important for managing coronary artery disease but are not the most significant risk based on the given information.

Recurrent long-term angina pain and subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) may be a concern for the client with coronary artery disease, but the elevated troponin I and CK-MB levels suggest that myocardial damage has already occurred. The focus at this point would be on managing the acute myocardial damage and the risk of cardiac dysrhythmias.