High School

Read the following information from the patient's health record:

**Physical Exam:**
- RR: 24
- HR: 88
- Temp: 99.9
- BP: 98/68

**Gen:** Well-developed 4 y/o in no acute distress.

**HEENT:**
- Normocephalic.
- PERRLA.
- No conjunctival erythema; mild clear nasal discharge.
- Right canal blocked with cerumen—after ceruminolytic placed and canal clear, the tympanic membrane was seen. It was erythematous and full. Some mild tympanosclerosis of TM noted; the left ear was erythematous and full.
- Mild mastoidalgia on the left, but the ear is not displaced forward.

**CV:** RRR without murmur.

**Resp:** CTA.

Which of the following is TRUE given this information?

A. The patient's tympanic membrane is not visible.
B. The patient's blood pressure is within normal limits.
C. The patient has a murmur in the cardiovascular exam.
D. The patient has a displaced left ear.

Answer :

Final answer:

The TRUE statement based on the patient's health record is B) The patient's blood pressure is within normal limits. The other options are incorrect based on the details provided in the health record examination.

Explanation:

Given the patient's health record information, the statement that is TRUE is: B) The patient's blood pressure is within normal limits.

The patient's tympanic membrane was initially not visible due to blockage with cerumen in the right canal. However, after ceruminolytic was placed and the canal cleared, the tympanic membrane was visible and showed signs of erythema and fullness, with some mild tympanosclerosis.

This finding rules out statement A. Furthermore, the cardiovascular exam indicated a regular rate and rhythm without murmur (CV: RRR without murmur), indicating that statement C is false. Lastly, while mild mastoidalgia (mastoid pain) was noted on the left, there was no displacement of the ear forward, thus, statement D is false. As for the patient's blood pressure, while it is on the lower side, for a 4-year-old child, it is often considered within acceptable ranges, thus making statement B true.