Summary
Summary ( 15 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and has received spinal anesthesia for pain relief.
The client reports a severe headache that worsens when sitting up.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
administering oxygen via nasal cannula will not help with a spinal headache.
Oxygen therapy is used for hypoxia, not CSF leakage.
increasing the rate of IV fluids will not help with a spinal headache.
IV fluids are used for dehydration, not CSF leakage.
the client has a spinal headache, which is caused by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the dural hole created by the needle. Lying flat can reduce the pressure gradient between the brain and the spinal cord and decrease the headache pain.
applying ice packs to the forehead will not help with a spinal headache.
Ice packs are used for inflammation, not CSF leakage.
Normal ranges for CSF pressure are 7 to 18 cm H2O in adults and 1.5 to 6 cm H2O in children.
the client has a spinal headache, which is caused by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the dural hole created by the needle. Lying flat can reduce the pressure gradient between the brain and the spinal cord and decrease the headache pain.