Which range represents normal intracranial pressure (ICP) in an adult client?
15-20 mm Hg
25-30 mm Hg
5-10 mm Hg
0-2 mm Hg
The Correct Answer is C
Intracranial pressure (ICP) reflects pressure within the cranial vault influenced by brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. Normal adult ICP maintains cerebral perfusion, preventing ischemia, herniation, and neurological deterioration within tightly regulated physiological limits.
Rationale:
A. 15-20 mm Hg represents elevated ICP rather than normal range. Normal adult intracranial pressure is typically 5-15 mm Hg. Values above 15 indicate increasing risk of cerebral edema and impaired perfusion, potentially progressing to intracranial hypertension requiring urgent intervention.
B. 25-30 mm Hg indicates severe intracranial hypertension associated with significantly reduced cerebral perfusion pressure. This range is life-threatening and commonly seen in traumatic brain injury or hemorrhage. It requires immediate intervention to prevent brain herniation and irreversible neurological damage.
C. 5-10 mm Hg falls within normal ICP range for adults. This reflects balanced cerebrospinal fluid production and absorption with intact autoregulation. It ensures adequate cerebral blood flow without compressing neural structures or compromising oxygen delivery to brain tissue.
D. 0-2 mm Hg is abnormally low intracranial pressure and is not physiologically typical in adults. Such values may suggest excessive CSF drainage or measurement error. Very low ICP can lead to headache, subdural hematoma risk, and impaired cerebral cushioning protection.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Spinal cord injury results from traumatic disruption of spinal cord integrity leading to partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic function below the level of injury. In young adults, high-energy trauma is the predominant cause due to increased exposure to high-speed impacts and unsafe driving behaviors.
Rationale:
A. Falls are a leading cause of spinal cord injury in older adults due to decreased bone density and balance impairment. However, in younger adults, falls are less commonly the primary mechanism compared to high-impact trauma such as vehicle-related collisions.
B. Aging is not a mechanism of spinal cord injury but a risk modifier in older populations. Age-related degeneration increases vulnerability but does not directly cause acute traumatic spinal cord injury in young adults.
C. Infection can affect the spinal cord through conditions such as transverse myelitis or epidural abscess, but it is not a common traumatic mechanism of spinal cord injury in young adults. It represents a non-traumatic etiologic category.
D. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injury in young adults due to high-energy deceleration forces, hyperflexion, and direct vertebral trauma. These mechanisms frequently result in vertebral fracture-dislocation and irreversible neurological damage.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Spasm-induced urinary incontinence in spinal cord injury results from neurogenic bladder, involuntary detrusor contractions, impaired urinary control, and disrupted sacral reflex pathways. Management focuses on reducing bladder spasms, increasing bladder capacity, and preventing urinary retention, infection, and upper urinary tract complications.
Rationale:
A. Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic medication commonly prescribed for neurogenic bladder with spasm-induced urinary incontinence. It suppresses involuntary detrusor muscle contractions, increases bladder storage capacity, and reduces urinary urgency episodes. Therapeutic effects improve bladder control and decrease excessive detrusor activity in spinal cord injury clients.
B. Dulaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist used in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It improves glycemic control through delayed gastric emptying and enhanced insulin secretion. This medication has no therapeutic role in treating urinary incontinence or neurogenic bladder dysfunction following spinal cord injury.
C. Montelukast sodium is a leukotriene receptor antagonist primarily prescribed for asthma and allergic rhinitis management. It reduces airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction but does not affect bladder smooth muscle activity. The medication lacks effectiveness for detrusor spasms and neurologic urinary dysfunction associated with spinal cord injuries.
D. Glatiramer acetate is an immunomodulatory medication used to reduce relapse frequency in multiple sclerosis. Its therapeutic action targets immune-mediated neurologic inflammation rather than bladder muscle overactivity. This medication is unrelated to treatment of neurogenic bladder or involuntary urinary spasms in spinal cord injury clients.
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