A nurse is caring for a newborn who has hydrocephalus. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
Explanation & Rationale
A. This is a common manifestation of hydrocephalus in newborns. The increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles causes the skull to expand, which can lead to prominent and dilated scalp veins due to increased intracranial pressure. B. Over-riding suture lines are more commonly associated with conditions like craniosynostosis or during the early stages of labor when the skull bones overlap. In hydrocephalus, the sutures are more likely to be separated rather than overridden due to the expansion of the skull. C. This is not a typical manifestation of hydrocephalus. Instead, you would expect a more pronounced or bulging forehead due to increased intracranial pressure. D. Hypertension is not typically a manifestation of hydrocephalus in newborns. Instead, the condition is more associated with signs of increased intracranial pressure and changes in head size.