A nurse is providing care for a patient in the emergency department who has been preliminarily diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect the healthcare provider to order?

Choice A rationale
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can indeed disrupt cellular function and cause blood vessel damage. This can lead to a range of potential effects, from temporary changes in brain function to long-term complications or even death.
Choice B rationale
Damage to brain tissue from decreased pressure shock waves is not typically associated with TBI. This type of injury is more commonly associated with blast injuries, such as those caused by explosions.
Choice C rationale
While increased blood supply and edema (swelling) can occur in the area of a brain injury, they are typically responses to the injury rather than direct consequences of the TBI itself. These processes can contribute to further damage and complications.
Choice D rationale
A TBI does not typically lead to increased synaptic connections. In fact, the injury can cause loss of neurons and synapses, which can lead to long-term cognitive and functional impairments.

Choice A rationale
Osmotic cerebral edema is a condition where water moves from the blood vessels into the brain due to changes in the concentration of particles in the blood. However, this is not the primary cause of cerebral edema in meningitis.
Choice B rationale

While inflammation can contribute to cerebral edema, it is not specific to the brain and does not affect the brain the most. In meningitis, the inflammation is primarily in the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain, and not the whole body.
Choice C rationale
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) does flow from the intraventricular space to the interstitial area of the brain, but this is a normal process and does not cause cerebral edema. In meningitis, the inflammation of the meninges can disrupt the normal flow and absorption of CSF, leading to an accumulation of fluid and increased intracranial pressure.
Choice D rationale
In meningitis, the inflammation and immune response to the infection can lead to an increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. This allows fluid and immune cells to enter the brain tissue, leading to cerebral edema. Additionally, the by-products of the pathogen that causes meningitis can directly damage the brain tissue and contribute to the edema.