Deck 28: Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Question 1

Which of following has been shown to shorten the course of a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome?

A) Renal dialysis
B)Plasmapheresis
C)Blood transfusion
D)Mechanical ventilation

Answer 1

Plasmapheresis

Question 2

Typical chest assessment findings in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome include:
1) diminished breath sounds.
2) crackles and rhonchi.
3) tracheal deviation.
4) depressed diaphragms.

A)4
B)1, 2
C)3, 4
D)1, 3, 4

Answer 2

1, 2

Question 3

A patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome will have pulmonary function test findings that show:

A) a restrictive pulmonary disorder.
B)an obstructive pulmonary disorder.
C)diaphragm muscle weakness.
D)chest muscle weakness.

Answer 3

a restrictive pulmonary disorder.

Question 4

Your patient with Guillain-Barré is paralyzed and receiving mechanical ventilation and must lie in bed. A pulmonary risk of being in bed is:

A) pneumonia.
B)pressure sores.
C)thromboembolism.
D)atelectasis.

Question 5

The peripheral nervous system problems found with Guillain-Barré syndrome include:
1) loss of reflexes.
2) increased reflex reactions.
3) flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscles.
4) tetany of skeletal muscles.

A)3
B)4
C)1, 3
D)2, 4

Question 6

Under microscopic inspection, the skeletal muscle nerves of a Guillain-Barré patient show all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) Hypertrophy
B)Edema
C)Inflammation
D)Demyelination

Question 7

Your Guillain-Barré syndrome patient has autonomic nervous system dysfunction and should be monitored for all of the following:
1) tachycardia.
2) hypotension.
3) bradycardia.
4) fever.

A)2, 4
B)1, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Question 8

When a person has Guillain-Barré syndrome, what happens to the peripheral nerves?

A) They hypertrophy.
B)They fail to reproduce.
C)The myelin sheath is removed.
D)Schwann cells attack the peripheral nerves.

Question 9

Guillain-Barré syndrome is most likely to be found in which demographic group?

A) African-American female 20-30 years of age
B)Hispanic male <45 years of age
C)Asian female 20-40 years of age
D)White male = 45 years of age

Question 10

Your 75-kg (165-lb) 50-year-old male patient has Guillain-Barré syndrome. His most recent vital signs show a heart rate of 130/min, blood pressure of 125/85 mm Hg, and respiratory rate of 40/min. As the respiratory therapist, you have checked his breathing and found his VC is 1100 ml and NIF is -16 cm H₂O. What would you recommend?

A) Begin electrocardiogram monitoring.
B)Begin continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
C)Begin mechanical ventilation.
D)Assess the patient each hour.

Question 11

Your patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome is developing atelectasis. His chest radiograph findings would show:

A) "ground-glass" appearance.
B)crackles.
C)increased opacity.
D)blunted costophrenic angles.

Question 12

Common noncardiopulmonary manifestations associated with Guillain-Barré is/are:
1) difficulty swallowing.
2) leg pain.
3) distal paresthesia.
4) absent deep tendon reflexes.

A)1
B)2, 3
C)1, 2, 4
D)1, 2, 3, 4

Question 13

Clinical indications that your patient has acute ventilatory failure include:
1) pH < 7.35.
2) vital capacity (VC) < 20 ml/kg.
3) PaCO₂ > 45 mm Hg.
4) negative inspiratory force (NIF) < -25 cm H₂O.

A)3
B)1, 3
C)2, 4
D)1, 2, 3, 4

Question 14

The major pathologic or structural changes of the lungs associated with ventilator failure accompanying Guillain-Barré syndrome include:
1) alveolar consolidation.
2) airway distortion and dilation.
3) mucosal edema.
4) atelectasis.

A)1, 4
B)2, 3
C)1, 2, 3
D)1, 2, 3, 4

Question 15

The diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome is based on all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) urinalysis shows elevate blood urea nitrogen.
B)abnormal electromyography results.
C)cerebrospinal fluid shows elevated protein level.
D)clinical history.