A previously healthy, young adult had cardiopulmonary arrest during a football game and died. The nurse knows which explanation is the most likely cause of death?
Formation of a clot in the middle cerebral artery
Obstruction of left ventricular blood flow and cardiac dysrhythmias
Fluid volume overload and decreased serum potassium levels
Diffuse atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery circulation
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Formation of a clot in the middle cerebral artery is not the most likely cause of death because it is a condition that affects the brain, not the heart. A clot in the middle cerebral artery can cause a stroke, which is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, resulting in brain damage and neurological deficits. A stroke can be fatal, but it does not usually cause cardiopulmonary arrest, which is a sudden cessation of heart and lung function.
Choice B reason: Obstruction of left ventricular blood flow and cardiac dysrhythmias is the most likely cause of death because it is a condition that affects the heart, which is the organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Obstruction of left ventricular blood flow can be caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a genetic disorder that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick and stiff, reducing the amount of blood that the heart can pump. Cardiac dysrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that can interfere with the electrical signals that control the heart's contractions. Both conditions can lead to sudden cardiac death, which is a sudden and unexpected loss of heart function, resulting in cardiopulmonary arrest.
Choice C reason: Fluid volume overload and decreased serum potassium levels are not the most likely cause of death because they are conditions that affect the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body, not the heart. Fluid volume overload is a condition where the body retains too much fluid, which can cause edema, hypertension, and heart failure. Decreased serum potassium levels are a condition where the blood has too little potassium, which is an electrolyte that helps regulate the nerve and muscle function, including the heart. Both conditions can affect the heart function, but they are not usually the direct cause of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Choice D reason: Diffuse atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery circulation is not the most likely cause of death because it is a condition that affects the blood vessels, not the heart. Atherosclerosis is a disease that causes the buildup of plaque, which is a fatty substance, in the walls of the arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the organs. Diffuse atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery circulation means that the plaque affects the entire length of the artery that supplies blood to the left side of the heart, which is the side that pumps blood to the rest of the body. Atherosclerosis can cause coronary artery disease, which is a condition where the heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen, leading to chest pain, angina, or heart attack. A heart attack can cause cardiopulmonary arrest, but it is not as common as sudden cardiac death in young adults.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Lymph structures were removed and fluid cannot move out of the area easily is the correct explanation because a radical mastectomy involves the removal of the breast, the underlying chest muscles, and the lymph nodes in the axilla. The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from the tissues and returning it to the bloodstream. When the lymph nodes are removed, the fluid cannot be drained properly and accumulates in the affected arm and hand, causing edema.
Choice B reason: There is still too much swelling in the area of the surgery and fluid is accumulating is not the correct explanation because it does not address the underlying cause of the edema. Swelling is a normal response to surgery, but it usually subsides within a few days or weeks. The edema caused by lymph node removal is chronic and persistent, and it does not improve with time.
Choice C reason: The veins were removed from the axilla during surgery and there is poor circulation now is not the correct explanation because it is not true. The veins are not removed during a radical mastectomy, only the lymph nodes are. The veins are part of the circulatory system, which carries blood throughout the body. The blood flow to the arm and hand is not affected by the surgery, unless there is a complication such as a blood clot or an infection.
Choice D reason: You will need to wear a compression bandage to help fluids move from the area is not the correct explanation because it is a treatment, not a cause. A compression bandage is a type of elastic bandage that applies pressure to the arm and hand, which helps to reduce the swelling and prevent further fluid accumulation. However, it does not address the root cause of the edema, which is the removal of the lymph nodes.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is not the correct answer because it is a type of cancer that affects the lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that are part of the immune system. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not have Reed-Sternberg cells, which are abnormal, large, and multinucleated cells that are characteristic of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Choice B reason: Multiple myeloma is not the correct answer because it is a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells, which are a type of lymphocyte that produce antibodies. Multiple myeloma does not have Reed-Sternberg cells, but it can have abnormal plasma cells that are called myeloma cells.
Choice C reason: Hodgkin lymphoma is the correct answer because it is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is a network of organs, tissues, and vessels that help fight infections and diseases. Hodgkin lymphoma has Reed-Sternberg cells, which are the hallmark of this disease. Reed-Sternberg cells are thought to be derived from B lymphocytes, which are a type of lymphocyte that produce antibodies.
Choice D reason: Acute lymphocytic leukemia is not the correct answer because it is a type of cancer that affects the immature lymphocytes, which are called lymphoblasts. Acute lymphocytic leukemia does not have Reed-Sternberg cells, but it can have abnormal lymphoblasts that are called leukemic cells.
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