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 D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Blood clots in the peripheral blood vessels are not a cause of anemia, but a complication of it. They may occur due to increased blood viscosity, reduced blood flow, or hypercoagulability. They may cause tissue ischemia, pain, and necrosis.
Choice B reason: Decrease in bone marrow platelet production is not a cause of anemia, but a result of it. It may occur due to bone marrow suppression, infiltration, or destruction. It may cause bleeding, bruising, and petechiae.
Choice C reason: Increase in the number of circulating reticulocytes is not a cause of anemia, but a sign of it. Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells that are released from the bone marrow to compensate for the loss of mature red blood cells. They indicate a regenerative response to anemia.
Choice D reason: Redistribution of blood to the heart and brain is a compensatory mechanism for anemia. It occurs to maintain adequate oxygen delivery to the vital organs. It causes vasoconstriction and shunting of blood away from the skin and mucous membranes, resulting in pallor.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Decreased dietary intake of proteins and vegetables is not the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the nutritional status, not the immune system. Nutritional status is important for maintaining the health and function of the body, but it does not directly cause an increased risk of infection. Proteins and vegetables are sources of essential nutrients, such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, that support the growth and repair of the tissues and the prevention of oxidative stress.
Choice B reason: Decreased T cell function and antibody response is the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the immune system, which is the body's defense mechanism against foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The immune system consists of two main components: the innate immunity and the adaptive immunity. The innate immunity is the first line of defense that provides a general and rapid response to any potential threat. The adaptive immunity is the second line of defense that provides a specific and long-lasting response to a particular antigen. T cells and antibodies are part of the adaptive immunity, which recognizes and remembers the antigens that have previously infected the body and eliminates them more efficiently. However, as people age, the T cell function and the antibody response decline, making the older adults more susceptible to infections, especially those that are new or unfamiliar to the body.
Choice C reason: Atrophy of the bone marrow and spleen is not the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the production and storage of immune cells, not the function and response. The bone marrow is the soft tissue inside the bones that produces the blood cells, including the white blood cells, which are the main components of the immune system. The spleen is an organ that filters the blood and removes the old or damaged blood cells, as well as stores some of the white blood cells and platelets. As people age, the bone marrow and the spleen shrink and lose some of their ability to produce and store the immune cells, which can reduce the number and diversity of the immune cells available to fight infections. However, this does not necessarily affect the function and response of the immune cells that are already circulating in the blood.
Choice D reason: Impaired absorption of vitamin B12 is not the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the nervous system and the blood cells, not the immune system. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for the synthesis of DNA, the maintenance of the myelin sheath, and the formation of red blood cells. As people age, the absorption of vitamin B12 decreases due to the reduced secretion of stomach acid and intrinsic factor, which are needed to break down and bind to the vitamin B12 in the food. This can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, numbness, tingling, memory loss, and anemia. Anemia is a condition where the blood has a low level of hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. Anemia can affect the oxygen delivery to the tissues, but it does not directly cause an increased risk of infection.
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