Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who received epidural anesthesia during hip surgery. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor as an adverse reaction?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Severe headache
Rationale:
🟦 A severe headache after epidural anesthesia can indicate a post–dural puncture headache, which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid leaks and reduces intracranial pressure.
🟦 This headache is typically positional, worsening when the client sits or stands and improving when lying flat.
🟦 It is a recognized complication of neuraxial anesthesia and requires prompt monitoring for severity and associated neurologic symptoms.
🟦 Early recognition supports timely management, which can include hydration, analgesia, caffeine, and possibly an epidural blood patch.
🟦 Monitoring for this manifestation improves safety and reduces complications following epidural anesthesia.
❌ Rapid rise in temperature
🟦 A sudden temperature rise suggests infection or malignant hyperthermia rather than an epidural complication.
🟦 It is not the typical hallmark adverse reaction expected from epidural anesthesia alone.
❌ Tachycardia
🟦 Tachycardia is more commonly related to pain, hypovolemia, or systemic reactions.
🟦 Epidural anesthesia more often causes bradycardia due to sympathetic blockade.
❌ Hypertension
🟦 Hypertension is not a common adverse effect of epidural anesthesia.
🟦 Epidurals typically cause vasodilation and can lead to hypotension instead.
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This question is from RN Pharmacology 2023 Dec 17 which contains 70 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Pharmacology
- Answer Choices: 4