A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a right hip arthroplasty. Exhibits For each finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with malignant hyperthermia, latex allergy or hypovolemic shock. Each finding may support more than 1 disease process or none at all. There must be at least 1 selection in every column. There does not need to be a selection in every row.

Rationale: Hypercapnia: This is a hallmark of malignant hyperthermia (MH), resulting from uncontrolled calcium release in muscle cells leading to increased metabolism and CO2 production. It is not typical of latex allergy or hypovolemic shock. Neither condition causes increased carbon dioxide retention from muscle metabolism. Tachycardia: Elevated heart rate is common in MH due to hypermetabolic state, in latex allergy as part of anaphylaxis response, and in hypovolemic shock as a compensatory mechanism for decreased circulating volume. Wheezing: Wheezing reflects bronchospasm, a common feature of latex allergy/anaphylaxis, but is not a symptom of MH or hypovolemic shock. Urticaria (hives): Urticaria is a typical allergic skin reaction seen in latex allergy but is absent in MH and hypovolemic shock. Muscle rigidity: Muscle rigidity, particularly jaw muscle rigidity (masseter spasm), is a classic sign of MH due to abnormal muscle metabolism. This finding is not associated with latex allergy or hypovolemic shock.