The patient's health care provider prescribed dantrolene sodium ...

[kellyjaisingh]

The patient's health care provider prescribed dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) 25 mg daily for the treatment of neck spasms secondary to spinal cord injury.
 
  The patient reports that the medication is not working, even though it has been 45 days since the medication was started. What changes in this patient's plan of care would the nurse anticipate?
  1. Increase in the dosage frequency to twice a day
  2. Discontinuation of the medication
  3. Increase in the frequency of hepatic function tests
  4. Change to a different medication
  5. Addition of succinylcholine (Anectine) to the patient's medications

Question 2

The parents of a 2-year-old who has cerebral palsy are only now beginning to accept that their child will have a permanent disability. The nurse has been instructing the parents about the treatment for the spasticity their child is experiencing.
 
  Which statements by the parents indicate that the nurse should plan additional teaching sessions?
  1. At some point, our child may require surgery to correct this spasticity.
  2. As long as we continue our child's medications, the spasticity can be controlled.
  3. Our physical therapy sessions should focus on flexing our child's muscles.
  4. We should repeat the exercises several times with each muscle group.
  5. It is best to give our child a rest from physical therapy by skipping 1 week a month.

[mohan]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2,4
Rationale 1: If no therapeutic effect of the medication is noted after 45 days of treatment, increasing the dosage in not indicated.
Rationale 2: If there has been no therapeutic effect from the dantrolene after 45 days of therapy, the medication should be discontinued.
Rationale 3: Simply increasing the frequency of liver tests will not prevent damage to the liver.
Rationale 4: Since there have been no therapeutic effects from this medication, a different medication is indicated.
Rationale 5: Succinylcholine (Anectine) is a drug used during surgery, not on an outpatient basis.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2,3,5
Rationale 1: Surgery is sometimes necessary in these cases, so this statement reflects accurate knowledge.
Rationale 2: Medication alone is generally not enough to control spasticity in these children. The parents need additional teaching.
Rationale 3: The physical therapy sessions for spasticity focus on muscle stretching, not flexion. The parents need additional teaching.
Rationale 4: Repetitive motion exercises are beneficial in reducing and controlling spasticity. The parents have expressed accurate knowledge.
Rationale 5: Physical therapy should be routine and consistent in order to reduce or control spasticity. These parents need additional teaching.