A patient is in the intensive care unit with a pulmonary contusion sustained from a motor vehicle accident.Which posttraumatic complication should the nurse focus on when providing care to this patient?
A)Abdominal compartment syndrome
B)Sepsis
C)Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
D)Acute renal failure

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A pulmonary contusion can lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is characterized by severe respiratory failure and can result in the need for mechanical ventilation. The other complications (abdominal compartment syndrome, sepsis, acute renal failure) may also occur in trauma patients but are less directly related to a pulmonary contusion.

A Patient Is in the Intensive Care Unit with a Pulmonary