Which of the following is a late sign of intracranial pressure?

Choice A: Thickened liquids or pureed diet is correct because it can prevent aspiration, choking, or malnutrition in stroke patients. A stroke can impair the patient's ability to swallow, chew, or control their tongue and mouth movements. This can cause food or liquids to enter the airway instead of the esophagus, leading to pneumonia or death. A thickened liquid or pureed diet consists of foods that are smooth, soft, and easy to swallow. The nurse should assess the patient's swallowing function and provide appropriate food and drink consistency.

Choice B: Regular diet is incorrect because it can be unsafe or unsuitable for stroke patients. A regular diet consists of foods that are solid, crunchy, or sticky and require normal chewing and swallowing abilities. The nurse should not give a regular diet to a stroke patient unless they have passed a swallowing evaluation and have no signs of dysphagia.

Choice C: Renal diet is incorrect because it is not specific to stroke patients. A renal diet is designed for patients with kidney disease or failure. It limits the intake of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein to reduce the workload and waste products of the kidneys. The nurse should not give a renal diet to a stroke patient unless they also have a kidney condition and a doctor's order.

Choice D: Cardiac diet is incorrect because it is not specific to stroke patients. A cardiac diet is designed for patients with heart disease or risk factors. It limits the intake of saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol levels and prevent further damage to the heart. The nurse should not give a cardiac diet to a stroke patient unless they also have a heart condition and a doctor's order.

Choice A: Unconsciousness, unarousable unresponsiveness is not a description of persistent vegetative state, but rather a description of coma, as it is a state of complete loss of consciousness and reflexes caused by severe brain injury.

Choice B: Devoid of cognitive function but has sleep-wake cycles is a description of persistent vegetative state, as it is a state of minimal awareness and responsiveness caused by widespread brain damage.

Choice C: Inability to move or respond except for eye movements due to a lesion affecting the pons is not a description of persistent vegetative state, but rather a description of locked-in syndrome, as it is a state of complete paralysis and preserved consciousness caused by damage to the brainstem.

Choice D: Unresponsiveness to the environment, makes no movement or sound but sometimes opens eyes is not a description of persistent vegetative state, but rather a description of akinetic mutism, as it is a state of severe apathy and reduced motor activity caused by damage to the frontal lobes or basal ganglia.