Understanding Pathophysiology Study Set 3

A nurse is preparing to teach staff about the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Which type of traumatic brain injury should the nurse discuss?

A coup injury resulting from a blow to the frontal portion of the skull would occur in which region of the brain?

What is the main source of bleeding in extradural (epidural) hematomas?

A 69-year-old patient with a history of alcohol abuse presents to the emergency room (ER) after a month-long episode of headaches and increasing confusion. The patient's history and symptomology support which medical diagnosis?

Immediately after being struck by a motor vehicle, a patient is unconscious, but the patient regains consciousness before arriving at the hospital and appears alert and oriented. The next morning the patient is confused and demonstrates impaired responsiveness. The patient's history and symptoms support which medical diagnosis?

Which assessment finding by the nurse characterizes a mild concussion?

A CT scan reveals that a patient has an open basilar skull fracture. Which major complication should the nurse observe for in this patient?

A patient diagnosed with a diffuse brain injury (DBI) is at increased risk for which complication?

After falling, a patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 5 initially and 7 after 1 day. The patient remained unconscious for 2 weeks but is now awake, confused, and experiencing anterograde amnesia. This history supports which medical diagnosis?

Who is most at risk of spinal cord injury because of pre-existing degenerative disorders?

A patient is brought to the ER for treatment of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident. An MRI reveals spinal cord injury, and his body temperature fluctuates markedly. What is the reason for the fluctuations in body temperature?

Six weeks ago a patient suffered a T6 spinal cord injury. What complication does the nurse suspect when the patient develops a blood pressure of 200/120, a severe headache, blurred vision, and bradycardia?

A patient diagnosed with a spinal cord injury experienced spinal shock lasting 15 days. The patient is now experiencing an uncompensated cardiovascular response to sympathetic stimulation. What does the nurse suspect caused this condition?

A patient presents with acute low back pain. There is no history of trauma. An MRI reveals that the vertebra at L5 has slipped forward relative to those below it. Which of the following conditions will be documented on the chart?

At what level does the majority of intervertebral disc herniations occur?

A 30-year-old white male recently suffered a cerebrovascular accident. Which of the following is the most likely factor that contributed to his stroke?

Which of the following would increase a patient's risk for thrombotic stroke?

Who is at particular risk for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)?

A 72-year-old patient demonstrates left-sided weakness of upper and lower extremities. The symptoms lasted less than an hour and resolved with no evidence of infarction. What did the patient most likely experience?

A major contributing factor to the development of a thrombotic stroke is the presence of atherosclerosis. Where does this commonly form?