Question

The nurse is caring for a patient who sustained electrical burns. Why should the nurse monitor this patient for compartment syndrome?

1) Potential for undiagnosed injuries
2) Injuries from being thrown bruise soft tissue
3) Electrical current alters integrity of blood vessels
4) Fluid seeps from intravascular spaces into the interstitium

Answer 1

A patient with electrical burns should be monitored for compartment syndrome due to potential deep tissue damage, compromised blood vessels, and fluid leakage leading to increased compartmental pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should monitor a patient who sustained electrical burns for compartment syndrome because electrical burns can lead to extensive tissue damage, including damage not immediately visible. Electrical current can compromise the integrity of blood vessels and cause fluids to leak from intravascular spaces into the interstitium. This can result in increased pressure within a closed muscle compartment, which can impede circulation and necessitate immediate medical intervention to prevent further tissue damage and necrosis.