Which information about the patient who has had a subarachnoid hemorrhage is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
a. The patient complains of having a stiff neck.
b. The patient's blood pressure (BP) is 90/50 mm Hg.
c. The patient reports a severe and unrelenting headache.
d. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) report shows red blood cells (RBCs).
ANS: B
To prevent cerebral vasospasm and maintain cerebral perfusion, blood pressure needs to be maintained at a level higher than 90 mm Hg systolic after a subarachnoid hemorrhage. A low BP or drop in BP indicates a need to administer fluids and/or vasopressors to increase the BP. An ongoing headache, RBCs in the CSF, and a stiff neck are all typical clinical manifestations of a subarachnoid hemorrhage and do not need to be rapidly communicated to the health care provider.
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