The nurse needs to closely monitor the oxygen status of an elderly patient undergoing anesthesia because of which age-related change?
a. Decreased lung defense mechanisms may cause ineffective airway clearance.
b. Thickening of the heart muscle wall decreases cardiac output.
c. Decreased lung capacity makes proper anesthesia induction more difficult.
d. Alterations in mental status prevent patients' awareness of ineffective breathing.
A
The age-related change that would affect airway clearance is decreased defense mechanisms, whereby the patient will have difficulty excreting anesthesia gas. The nurse needs to monitor the patient's oxygen status carefully to make sure the patient does not retain too much of the drug. Heart muscle thickening and mental status do not affect oxygenation in patients undergoing anesthesia. Lung capacity is not related to anesthesia induction.
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