Prepare for your NCLEX-RN® exam with a clinical question about congenital diaphragmatic hernia. What’s the other diagnosis to look out for?
The nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is caring for a client diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The nurse should anticipate which other diagnosis for this client?
A. Trisomy 21
B. Hearing loss
C. Oxygen toxicity
D. Neonatal abstinence syndrome
Scroll down for the correct answer!
The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® question is…
A. Trisomy 21
Rationale: About 10-20% of children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia also have chromosomal abnormalities, like Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome. Besides the presence of a chromosomal abnormality, there are no other known risk factors for congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Major Takeaway
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a development defect of the diaphragm in which an opening in the diaphragm allows the abdominal organs to herniate into the thorax. The exact cause of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is unknown, but it is believed to be associated with certain genetic risk factors that can interfere with the development of the diaphragm, including chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 13, 18, or 21.
Incorrect Answer Explanations
B. Hearing loss
Rationale: The nurse should not anticipate this diagnosis. Although hearing loss is associated with some genetic abnormalities, the genetic abnormalities associated with hearing loss are different from the ones associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Therefore, this is not the most likely diagnosis that would be found in a child diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
C. Oxygen toxicity
Rationale: The nurse should not anticipate this diagnosis. Oxygen toxicity is caused by being exposed to too much supplemental oxygen. This can occur in neonates but is not associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
D. Neonatal abstinence syndrome
Rationale: The nurse should not anticipate this diagnosis. Neonatal abstinence syndrome occurs when a fetus is subjected to addictive substances in the womb, especially illicit substances like heroin and cocaine. This is not associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Visit the Congenital diaphragmatic hernia page on Osmosis.
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