Author Question: A patient diagnosed with sepsis suddenly develops dyspnea, crackles, agitation, and confusion. The ... (Read 123 times)

asmith134 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A patient diagnosed with sepsis suddenly develops dyspnea, crackles, agitation, and confusion. The nurse recognizes these are symptoms of which health problem?

1. noncardiogenic pulmonary edema
2. right-sided heart failure
3. left-sided heart failure
4. constrictive pericarditis

Question 2

A patient being mechanically ventilated requires increasing PEEP for worsening ARDS. The order for PEEP is now at 20 cm of H2O. The nurse will need to contact the physician immediately if the patient develops which finding?

1. lung sounds greater on one side than the other
2. lung sounds with crackles
3. diminished peripheral pulses
4. high-pressure alarm

robbielu01 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
Sepsis is a condition associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Manifestations of ARDS include dyspnea, crackles, agitation, and confusion, which are associated with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Right-sided heart failure, left-sided heart failure, and constrictive pericarditis are considered cardiogenic causes for pulmonary edema.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
A potential complication from increasing PEEP is a pneumothorax. The nurse needs to be alert to diminishing or absent lung sounds on one side of the chest. Crackles and diminished peripheral pulses would not be related to a pneumothorax. A low-pressure alarm would be more likely to sound if the patient developed a pneumothorax.