Ten hours after admission to the ICU following an auto accident, a patient begins to exhibit mild tachycardia, irritability, and tremors. Three hours later the patient has a grand mal seizure. Which condition does the nurse suspect?
1. Wernicke encephalopathy
2. Korsakoff syndrome
3. Undetected internal bleeding
4. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Answer: 4
Explanation: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is marked by mild tachycardia, irritability, and tremors. Korsakoff syndrome is a disturbance in short-term memory that occurs in individuals who have been drinking for many years. Wernicke encephalopathy is a neurologic disease characterized by ataxia, sixth cranial nerve palsy, nystagmus, and confusion. An undetected internal hemorrhage would not present with the symptoms outlined.
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