The nurse is caring for client who is diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Which medical Intervention should the nurse anticipate for this client for the complications of dysrhythmias?

A) Equal but sluggishly reactive pupils:
Pupillary changes, including sluggish or unequal responses, are significant signs of increasing intracranial pressure (ICP) and should be monitored closely. However, altered level of consciousness (LOC) is typically one of the earliest signs of increased ICP. The response of the pupils to light can become abnormal later, once pressure increases within the brain, particularly when brainstem function is impacted.

B) Widening pulse pressure:
A widening pulse pressure is part of Cushing’s triad, which is a late sign of increased ICP. Cushing’s triad consists of hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations (often seen as Cheyne-Stokes). These changes occur in the later stages of elevated ICP as a compensatory mechanism to preserve cerebral perfusion. While this is an important finding, altered LOC would precede the development of Cushing’s triad.

C) Altered level of consciousness:
Altered level of consciousness (LOC) is typically the first and most sensitive indicator of increased ICP. As pressure increases within the skull, it compresses brain tissue and affects the brainstem, which controls basic functions like consciousness. LOC can range from mild confusion and disorientation to full loss of consciousness or coma, depending on the severity of the ICP increase.

D) Tachycardia and hypotension:
Tachycardia and hypotension can be associated with shock or other conditions, but they are not characteristic of early increased ICP. In fact, as ICP rises, the body typically responds with bradycardia (slower heart rate) and hypertension (increased blood pressure), which are part of the compensatory mechanisms.

A) Insertion of a cardioverter-defibrillator:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the septum, which can lead to obstruction of blood flow and contribute to the development of arrhythmias. The most concerning arrhythmias in HCM include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, both of which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. A cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a device that monitors the heart's rhythm and can deliver a shock to restore normal rhythm in the event of a life-threatening arrhythmia.

B) A medication regimen that includes nitrates:
Nitrates are vasodilators commonly used in the treatment of conditions like angina and heart failure. However, nitrates are generally avoided in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy because they can exacerbate the condition by decreasing preload and increasing the outflow tract obstruction due to the thickened heart muscle.

C) Immediate cardiac transplantation:
Cardiac transplantation is a treatment for end-stage heart failure, typically in patients who have not responded to medical or surgical treatments. While hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure, it is not the first line treatment for dysrhythmias or complications from the disease.

D) Insertion of a drug-eluting stent:
Drug-eluting stents are used to prevent restenosis (narrowing) of coronary arteries after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not caused by coronary artery disease.