A nurse is assessing a client who has a spinal cord injury with heterotopic ossifications. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A Reason:

Drooling is inappropriate. Drooling, also known as sialorrhea, is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease due to impaired swallowing and reduced control of the muscles involved in saliva production. Anticholinergic medications can exacerbate dry mouth, which may contribute to drooling. However, drooling is not typically a side effect that would be specifically associated with anticholinergic use.

Choice B Reason:

Anhidrosis is appropriate. Anhidrosis refers to the inability to sweat normally. Anticholinergic medications can inhibit sweating by blocking the action of acetylcholine on sweat glands, leading to decreased sweating and potentially causing hyperthermia. Anhidrosis is a potential side effect of anticholinergic agents and should be reported to the healthcare provider due to the risk of overheating.

Choice C Reason:

Tremors is inappropriate. Tremors are a common symptom of Parkinson's disease and are typically not caused by anticholinergic medications. In fact, anticholinergic agents are often prescribed to help reduce tremors in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Tremors would not be considered an adverse effect that the client should report in the context of anticholinergic therapy.

Choice D Reason:

Rigidity is inappropriate. Rigidity, or stiffness of the muscles, is a characteristic symptom of Parkinson's disease resulting from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. While anticholinergic medications can help alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson's disease, they are not typically associated with rigidity. Rigidity would not be considered an adverse effect that the client should report in the context of anticholinergic therapy.

Choice A Reason:

Hypoxemia due to dead space is not appropriate. Dead space refers to areas of the lung where ventilation occurs but no perfusion takes place. In ARDS, hypoxemia typically occurs due to ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch and shunting rather than dead space.

Choice B Reason:

Impaired carbon dioxide elimination due to shunting is not appropriate. Shunting occurs when blood bypasses ventilated alveoli, leading to inadequate gas exchange. In ARDS, shunting contributes to hypoxemia, but it doesn't directly impair carbon dioxide elimination.

Choice C Reason:

Decreased pulmonary arterial pressure due to ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch is incorrect. V/Q mismatch occurs when ventilation and perfusion are mismatched in different areas of the lung. This leads to areas of low ventilation (dead space) and areas of low perfusion (shunting). V/Q mismatch contributes to hypoxemia in ARDS but does not typically lead to decreased pulmonary arterial pressure.

Choice D Reason:

Decreased pulmonary compliance due to stiffness is correct. This is a characteristic feature of ARDS. The inflammation and damage to the alveoli cause them to become stiff, reducing pulmonary compliance and impairing lung expansion during ventilation.