CCRN-Adult Exam Dumps : CCRN (Adult) - Direct Care Eligibility Pathway

Epidural hematoma

An epidural hematoma is a collection of blood that forms between the skull and the dura mater, the outermost layer of the meninges that cover the brain. The most common cause of an epidural hematoma is a head injury that fractures the temporal bone and tears the middle meningeal artery, which runs along the inner surface of the skull. Arterial bleeding is under high pressure and can rapidly expand the hematoma, compressing the brain and causing neurological deterioration. A typical symptom of an epidural hematoma is a brief loss of consciousness followed by a lucid interval and then a rapid decline in consciousness and brain function. This condition requires urgent surgical evacuation of the hematoma to prevent brain damage or death12. Venous bleeding, clot formation, and intracranial aneurysm are not the main factors associated with the deterioration of the patient’s condition in this case.

Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist that can reverse the effects of benzodiazepine overdose. It acts by competitively inhibiting the activity at the benzodiazepine receptor, thus reversing sedation and other effects caused by benzodiazepines. Sodium bicarbonate, naloxone, and osmotic diuretics are not appropriate treatments for benzodiazepine overdose. References: AACN Adult CCRN Certification Review Course, AACN CCRN Exam Handbook.

The patient’s present clinical status is most likely a result of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is a hole in the wall between the left and right ventricles. A VSD can occur as a mechanical complication of MI, usually within the first week, due to necrosis and rupture of the ventricular septum. A VSD causes a left-to-right shunt of blood, which leads to increased pulmonary pressure, pulmonary edema, and reduced cardiac output. The patient’s symptoms and signs are consistent with a VSD, such as severe chest pain, hypotension, tachycardia, respiratory distress, high PAOP with large V waves, low CI, cool and clammy skin, inspiratory crackles, and a loud blowing holosystolic murmur at the apex. A papillary muscle rupture, a cardiac tamponade, and an acute aortic insufficiency are other possible mechanical complications of MI, but they have different clinical manifestations. A papillary muscle rupture causes acute mitral regurgitation, which presents with a soft systolic murmur at the apex and pulmonary congestion1. A cardiac tamponade causes compression of the heart by pericardial fluid, which presents with hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and jugular venous distension2. An acute aortic insufficiency causes backflow of blood from the aorta to the left ventricle, which presents with a diastolic decrescendo murmur at the left sternal border and a wide pulse pressure3.

References:

• 1: Mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction - UpToDate4, p. 2-3.
• 2: Cardiac tamponade - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice US, p. 1-2.
• 3: Acute aortic regurgitation - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice US, p. 1-2.