HESI Basic Care and Comfort Practice Exam

In the context of a client with a history of a T5 spinal cord injury, the correct finding that indicates a complication of the labor process is increased blood pressure.

This response is significant due to the potential for autonomic dysreflexia, a condition that can occur in individuals with spinal cord injuries at or above the T6 level. During labor, the physical stress and pain can trigger this response, leading to a surge in blood pressure. This is a critical issue as it can lead to severe complications if not addressed.

The body's inability to regulate autonomic responses effectively in such cases means that the client may not experience typical pain responses or autonomic changes that would usually accompany labor. Thus, monitoring for significant changes such as elevated blood pressure becomes crucial, as it may signal an underlying problem requiring immediate intervention.

In contrast, the other findings do not indicate complications of the labor process in this scenario. Regular uterine contractions are a normal part of labor. Lower limb weakness may be an expected consequence of a spinal cord injury and does not necessarily indicate a complication during labor. Decreased heart rate can occur in a variety of contexts, but it is not typically associated with the immediate complications of labor in this population. Therefore, increased blood pressure is