The nurse is caring for a patient who is being discharged after an emergency splenectomy following an automobile accident. Which instructions should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
- A. Watch for excess bruising.
- B. Check for swollen lymph nodes.
- C. Take iron supplements to prevent anemia.
- D. Wash hands and avoid persons who are ill.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step 1: Patient's immune system is compromised post-splenectomy.
Step 2: Washing hands and avoiding ill individuals reduce infection risk.
Step 3: Emphasizing infection prevention crucial for patient safety.
Summary: A - relates to clotting issues, B - not relevant, C - not immediate concern. Washing hands is most pertinent.
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Which of the following characteristics are similar with respect to Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF)?
- A. Both are made in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes.
- B. Both are activated by thrombin.
- C. They are present in normal to high relative amounts in newborns.
- D. They are stored in Weibel-Palade bodies in endothelial cells.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale:
- Factor VIII and vWF are present in normal to high amounts in newborns due to the physiological immaturity of the hemostatic system.
- Choice A is incorrect as vWF is mainly produced in endothelial cells while Factor VIII is produced in both endothelial cells and liver.
- Choice B is incorrect as Factor VIII is activated by thrombin, but vWF is not.
- Choice D is incorrect as vWF is stored in Weibel-Palade bodies, but Factor VIII is not.
A 10-year-old patient with aplastic anemia, who is blood type B negative, is receiving a red blood cell transfusion. About 10 minutes after the transfusion starts, the patient develops anxiety and lower back pain. The transfusion continues for another 5 minutes until it is stopped when he develops a temperature of 40 °C with chills and rigors. A transfusion reaction work-up is most likely to reveal what findings?
- A. Spherocytes on peripheral blood smear
- B. Gram-negative Bacillus on gram stain of remaining RBC unit
- C. Chest x-ray with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates that are new compared to an x-ray done last week
- D. DAT positive for C3
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because in this scenario, the patient is experiencing symptoms of a transfusion reaction, likely a hemolytic transfusion reaction due to ABO incompatibility. The presence of a positive Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) for C3 indicates complement activation, supporting the diagnosis.
Choice A (Spherocytes on peripheral blood smear) is incorrect as spherocytes are seen in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, not typically in transfusion reactions.
Choice B (Gram-negative Bacillus on gram stain of remaining RBC unit) is unlikely as the symptoms are more indicative of a hemolytic reaction rather than an infection.
Choice C (Chest x-ray with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates) is suggestive of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), but the symptoms described in the question (fever, chills, rigors) are more indicative of a hemolytic reaction rather than TRALI.
A 12-year-old patient with localized osteosarcoma is being treated with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate. The pain at his primary site rapidly resolves after initiation of chemotherapy. After tumor resection, pathology reveals the tumor was greater than 95% necrotic. You want to continue cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate. Which of the following is the best answer regarding the evaluations that should be performed to monitor for toxicity in patients receiving cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate?
- A. Complete blood count, creatinine, liver function tests
- B. Complete blood count, serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, BUN, chloride), and EKG to monitor for prolonged QTc
- C. Complete blood count, creatinine, serum magnesium, audiogram, and echocardiogram
- D. Complete blood count, creatinine, serum magnesium, chest x-ray
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it includes essential evaluations to monitor for toxicity associated with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate.
1. Complete blood count: To monitor for potential bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy drugs.
2. Creatinine: To assess renal function, as cisplatin can cause nephrotoxicity.
3. Serum magnesium: Monitoring for hypomagnesemia, a common side effect of cisplatin.
4. Audiogram: To screen for hearing loss, a known side effect of cisplatin.
5. Echocardiogram: To evaluate for cardiotoxicity, especially with doxorubicin known to cause cardiomyopathy.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: Does not include serum magnesium, audiogram, and echocardiogram, which are important for monitoring toxicity.
B: While electrolytes and EKG are relevant, it lacks creatinine, serum magnesium, and other crucial tests.
D:
The patient is a 2-month-old boy who presented with a skin abscess and is febrile. On exam, he is noted to have silvery hair and hypopigmented skin. A CBC shows a leukocyte count of 3.4 K/mcL with 10% neutrophils. What does the abnormality on the peripheral smear suggest?
- A. Abnormal lysosomal biogenesis
- B. Abnormal ribosome function
- C. Abnormal phagocytosis of opsonized particles
- D. Abnormal mitochondrial activity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Abnormal lysosomal biogenesis. In this case, the clinical presentation of silvery hair and hypopigmented skin suggests a diagnosis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting lysosomal function. The abnormal leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage indicate impaired immune function due to defective lysosomal biogenesis. The other choices, B: Abnormal ribosome function, C: Abnormal phagocytosis of opsonized particles, and D: Abnormal mitochondrial activity, do not align with the clinical presentation and laboratory findings of this specific case.
A patient receiving blood complains of dyspnea. The nurse auscultates the patient's lungs and finds crackles that were not present before the start of the transfusion. Which type of reaction should the nurse suspect?
- A. Urticarial
- B. Hemolytic
- C. Anaphylactic
- D. Circulatory overload
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Circulatory overload. Dyspnea and crackles post-transfusion indicate fluid overload, not an immune response. Step 1: Rule out urticarial (itching/rash) and anaphylactic (rapid onset, hypotension) reactions due to the absence of these symptoms. Step 2: Hemolytic reactions involve destruction of red blood cells, leading to hemoglobinuria and shock. Step 3: Circulatory overload results from an excessive volume of blood given, leading to pulmonary edema and crackles. In this case, the symptoms align with circulatory overload, making it the most likely reaction.