A female in her late twenties stumbled into the emergency room, her face flushed and sweaty. Upon initial assessment, the triage nurse observed rapid breathing and mild confusion. The patient reported a persistent headache lasting several days, for which she had been self-medicating with an undetermined amount of Aspirin. Given this clinical picture, the triage nurse suspected possible salicylate toxicity and began a focused assessment. Which of the following manifestations would the triage nurse identify as a classic finding of salicylate toxicity?
Dry Cough
Xanthopsia (Yellow Vision)
Moon Facies
Tinnitus
The Correct Answer is D
A. Dry Cough: A dry cough is not typically associated with salicylate toxicity. It is more commonly seen in conditions like ACE inhibitor use, respiratory infections, or asthma, and does not help distinguish salicylate overdose.
B. Xanthopsia (Yellow Vision): This visual disturbance is more classically linked to digoxin toxicity, not salicylates. Patients experiencing digoxin toxicity may report seeing halos or yellow-tinted vision, but this is not seen with aspirin overdose.
C. Moon Facies: This refers to a rounded facial appearance typically caused by chronic corticosteroid use and is a hallmark of Cushingoid features, not salicylate toxicity.
D. Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is a classic early symptom of salicylate toxicity. It often precedes more serious effects like metabolic acidosis, hyperventilation, confusion, and even seizures. It serves as an important clinical clue when assessing patients with possible aspirin overdose.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. The Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System: This system plays a major role in drug metabolism, particularly in the liver, but it does not significantly affect drug distribution. Its primary influence is on the biotransformation of drugs into active or inactive metabolites.
B. Renal function: Renal function primarily affects drug excretion. Impaired kidney function can lead to drug accumulation and toxicity but has a minimal direct effect on the distribution of drugs throughout tissues and organs.
C. Gastric pH: Gastric pH influences drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, especially for pH-sensitive drugs. However, it plays little to no role in the actual distribution of the drug once it enters systemic circulation.
D. Blood flow: Blood flow is the most significant factor affecting drug distribution. Highly perfused organs like the brain, liver, and kidneys receive drugs more quickly and in higher concentrations than poorly perfused tissues, influencing the onset and intensity of drug action.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. 300mg is incorrect.
B. 400mg is incorrect
C. 200mg is incorrect
D. The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%. If the half-life is 6 hours, the amount of drug in the body will halve every 6 hours.
- Initial dose: 800 mg
- After 6 hours (1st half-life): 800 mg ÷ 2 = 400 mg
- After 12 hours (2nd half-life): 400 mg ÷ 2 = 200 mg
- After 18 hours (3rd half-life): 200 mg ÷ 2 = 100 mg
After 18 hours (three half-lives), 100 mg of the medication will remain in the patient's system.
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