Alzheimer’s Delirium and Dementia Q 9
Nurse John is aware that a serious effect of inhaling cocaine is?
A. Deterioration of nasal septum.
B. Acute fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
C. Extrapyramidal tract symptoms.
D. Esophageal varices.
Correct Answer: A. Deterioration of nasal septum
Cocaine is a chemical that when inhaled, causes destruction of the mucous membranes of the nose. Despite the fast delivery and more powerful effects that come with snorting drugs, the nose simply wasn’t meant to inhale powders. Even a single use can cause swelling of the inner linings of the nose, lung infections, nasal blockages, and compromised respiratory tracts. These damaging outcomes are usually not the result of the drug being snorted, but of all the other things that might have been added to the powder to stretch it or that otherwise contaminate it.
Option B: Other clinical findings may include hyperreflexia, headache, mydriasis, and abdominal pain. Cocaine-induced central sympathetic stimulation and direct cardiac effects may lead to tachycardia, hypertension, and coronary or cerebral artery vasoconstriction leading to myocardial infarction and stroke.
Option C: CNS reactions may be excitatory then depressant. In its mild form, the patient may display anxiety, restlessness, and excitement. Full-body tonic-clonic seizures may result from moderate to severe CNS stimulation. These seizures are often followed by CNS depression, with death resulting from respiratory failure and/or asphyxiation if concomitant emesis is present.
Option D: Patients receiving topical cocaine should have cardiac monitoring in case of dysrhythmia, and frequent vital signs are necessary to check for cocaine-induced hypertension and tachycardia. Clinicians should use the lowest dosage that results in effective anesthesia to avoid high plasma levels from mucosal absorption and potential adverse effects.