A client is brought to the emergency department after his face slammed into a brick wall during a gang fight. Which client assessment finding is most important for the nurse to consider before inserting a nasogastric tube?

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11ecbb05_cb05_864b_b433_4f1af9b43e9d_MD0009_00 Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea (or CSF otorrhea) can confirm that a skull fracture has occurred and transversed the dura. If the drainage is clear, dextrose testing can determine if it is CSF. However, the presence of blood would make this test unreliable as blood also contains glucose. In this case, the halo/ring test should be performed by adding a few drops of the blood-tinged fluid to gauze and assessing for the characteristic pattern of coagulated blood surrounded by CSF. Identification of this pattern is very important as CSF leakage places the client at risk for infection. The client's nose should not be packed. No nasogastric or oral gastric tube should be inserted blindly when a basilar skull fracture is suspected as there is a risk of penetrating the skull through the fracture site and having the tube ascend into the brain. These tubes are placed under fluoroscopic guidance in clients with such fractures. (Option A) A bruise is an expected finding after direct trauma. It would be a concern if the ecchymosis were around the eyes (periorbital, "raccoon eyes") or postauricular (Battle's sign) as this generally indicates a basilar skull fracture, a tear in the dura, and a potential CSF leak. (Option B) A headache is an expected finding after trauma. It would be a concern if it were unrelieved by non-narcotic analgesics or accompanied by signs of increased intracranial pressure. (Option D) The head is highly vascular and it is not unusual to have blood oozing after trauma. This is not as concerning as a potential CSF leak. However, it can become a problem if the nurse is unable to eventually stop the bleeding as substantial total blood loss is a concern. Educational objective: A nasogastric tube should not be inserted when a basilar skull fracture is suspected. CSF leakage is an indication of this and can be evidenced by a positive halo/ring test of the blood-tinged nasal drainage (coagulated blood surrounded by CSF).

A Client Is Brought to the Emergency Department After His