Question

A woman who takes pyridostigmine for myasthenia gravis (MG) arrives at the emergency department complaining of extreme muscle weakness. Her adult daughter tells the nurse that since yesterday her mother has been unable to smile, which assessment finding warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?

Answer 1

In myasthenia gravis (MG), muscle weakness is a common symptom. The woman's inability to smile indicates weakness in the facial muscles and could be a sign of a myasthenia crisis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The assessment finding that warrants immediate intervention by the nurse in this case is the woman's inability to smile. In myasthenia gravis (MG), muscle weakness is a common symptom, and the inability to smile indicates weakness in the facial muscles. This could be a sign of a myasthenia crisis, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

When acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction are blocked in myasthenia gravis, it affects the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles. This leads to muscle weakness and fatigue. In this case, the woman's inability to smile suggests that the muscles responsible for facial expressions, particularly the muscles around the mouth, are affected. The nurse should intervene immediately by notifying the healthcare team and initiating appropriate interventions to stabilize the woman's condition and provide necessary treatment for the myasthenia gravis crisis.