The patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and experienced a severe closed head injury resulting in increased intracranial pressure
While intubating the patient, his or her heart rate dropped and did not return to acceptable levels after the tube was in place so the nurse received an order to administer atropine. The physician is performing an exam to determine whether brain death has occurred. What assessment for brain death will be postponed until all atropine is excreted and no longer exerting an effect. A) Pupil response
B) Electroencephalogram
C) Brainstem reflexes
D) Computed tomographic scan of the brain
A
Feedback:
One test for neurological function is to shine a light in the patient's eyes to test pupil reaction to light. Because this patient has received atropine, pupils will be dilated and will not react normally to light. This could be mistaken as an indication of brain death if the nurse did not know atropine had been administered. This test will be postponed until the pupils are no longer dilated by the medication. The other tests would not have to be postponed because of atropine.
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