A client admitted 3 days prior with an injury to the thoracic area of the spinal cord tells the nurse,"I'm getting worse.It's harder to breathe." Based on this data,which does the nurse suspect?
A) The client has atelectasis.
B) The extent of injury cannot yet be determined.
C) The client is improving.
D) The client is developing pneumonia.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) With a spinal cord injury, there is an area of ischemia and edema. Because edema extends from the level of injury for two cord segments above and below the affected level, the extent of injury cannot be determined for up to 1 week. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe could be evidence that extent of injury is becoming more obvious but will not be totally determined for a few more days. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe may or may not indicate pneumonia or atelectasis. The complaint is not evidence that the client is improving.
B) With a spinal cord injury, there is an area of ischemia and edema. Because edema extends from the level of injury for two cord segments above and below the affected level, the extent of injury cannot be determined for up to 1 week. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe could be evidence that extent of injury is becoming more obvious but will not be totally determined for a few more days. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe may or may not indicate pneumonia or atelectasis. The complaint is not evidence that the client is improving.
C) With a spinal cord injury, there is an area of ischemia and edema. Because edema extends from the level of injury for two cord segments above and below the affected level, the extent of injury cannot be determined for up to 1 week. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe could be evidence that extent of injury is becoming more obvious but will not be totally determined for a few more days. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe may or may not indicate pneumonia or atelectasis. The complaint is not evidence that the client is improving.
D) With a spinal cord injury, there is an area of ischemia and edema. Because edema extends from the level of injury for two cord segments above and below the affected level, the extent of injury cannot be determined for up to 1 week. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe could be evidence that extent of injury is becoming more obvious but will not be totally determined for a few more days. The client's complaint of it being harder to breathe may or may not indicate pneumonia or atelectasis. The complaint is not evidence that the client is improving.

A Client Admitted 3 Days Prior with an Injury to the Thoracic