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A patient with a head injury presents to the emergency department. For which potential complication related to cerebral hemorrhage and edema should the nurse evaluate this patient?

a) Anxiety
b) Hyperthermia
c) Impaired physical mobility
d) Increased intracranial pressure

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The primary complication to evaluate in a patient with a head injury related to cerebral hemorrhage and edema is increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which is an urgent and potentially life-threatening condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient presents with a head injury, the primary concern is the potential development of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to cerebral hemorrhage and edema. This pressure can lead to further brain injury by hindering cerebral blood flow, causing ischemia, and potentially leading to herniation, a life-threatening condition. The accumulated blood from the hemorrhage, along with the resulting edema, can physically compress brain tissue as indicated by Figure 16.3 wherein the lateral ventricles are disfigured and may press against the opposite hemisphere. These complications serve as a key focus for a health care provider when rapidly assessing the patient's neurological function in the emergency department.

As such, the correct choice amongst the provided options is (d) increased intracranial pressure (ICP), as it is the most critical and immediate potential complication to evaluate in a patient presenting with a head injury due to cerebral hemorrhage and edema. While other options like anxiety, hyperthermia, and impaired physical mobility may be secondary concerns, they are not the immediate life-threatening complication that increased ICP represents.

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