Which action should the nurse take when providing postoperative nursing care to a child after insertion of ventriculoperitone (VP) shunt?

A. Continuing to offer a special formula to limit gagging is not a standard approach in the care of infants with cerebral palsy. The choice of formula should be based on the child's nutritional needs, and any feeding difficulties should be addressed by a healthcare professional.

B. Maintaining immobility of the limbs with splints is not recommended. Encouraging movement and mobility is important for the development and well-being of children with cerebral palsy.

C. Preserve muscle tone to prevent joint contractures.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that can lead to problems with muscle tone and movement. Preserving muscle tone is important to prevent joint contractures, which can limit mobility and cause pain. Physical therapy and exercises can help maintain muscle tone and joint flexibility in children with cerebral palsy.

D. Focusing on cognitive rather than motor skills is not appropriate. Motor skills are a crucial aspect of development for children with cerebral palsy. The approach should encompass both cognitive and motor skill development as appropriate for the child's age and abilities.

A. Shunted past the pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary hypoxia: This option is not the primary reason for dyspnea in PDA. While there is shunting, it doesn't directly cause pulmonary hypoxia.

B. Circulated through the lungs again, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion: This option is partially correct but does not address the primary reason for dyspnea, which is the bypassing of the left side of the heart.

C. Circulated through the ductus from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the left side of the heart.

In patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a fetal blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. This allows oxygenated blood from the left atrium to be shunted directly from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, bypassing the normal route through the left side of the heart and into the systemic circulation. The shunting of oxygenated blood back into the pulmonary circulation can lead to increased pulmonary blood flow and circulatory congestion, causing symptoms such as dyspnea.

D. Shunted past cardiac arteries, causing myocardial hypoxia: PDA primarily affects the pulmonary circulation and left side of the heart, not the coronary arteries. Myocardial hypoxia is not the primary mechanism of dyspnea in PDA.