A critical care patient is diagnosed with massive head traum ...

[ENagel]

A critical care patient is diagnosed with massive head traum
 
  a. The patient is receiving brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO2) monitoring. The nurse recognized that the goal of this treatment is to maintain PbtO2
 
  a. greater than 20 mm Hg.
  b. less than 15 mm Hg.
  c. between 15 and 20 mm Hg.
  d. between 10 and 20 mm Hg.

Question 2

A patient returns from surgery for removal of a pituitary tumor that has not extended into the intracranial vault
 
  The nurse observes a large amount of clear drainage from the nose. The nurse expects the physician to order a glucose test of the drainage to confirm
 
  a. that infection has not occurred.
  b. that a shift in osmolality has not occurred.
  c. that the drainage is postoperative serous drainage.
  d. that the drainage is CSF from a cerebrospinal leak.

[jessicaduplan]

Answer to Question 1

A
In a patient with head injury, the goal of treatment is to maintain the PbtO2 greater than 20 mm Hg. Factors that decrease PbtO2 include tissue hypoxia, hypocapnia, hypovolemia, decreased blood pressure, low hemoglobin levels, intracranial hypertension, and hyperthermia. Treatment is directed at the underlying cause.

Answer to Question 2

D
To differentiate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage from postoperative serous drainage, a specimen is tested for glucose content. A CSF leak is confirmed by glucose values of 30 mg/dL or greater.

[ENagel]

Thank you

[jessicaduplan]

No problemo