Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) Practice Exam

The correct answer is atelectasis, which refers to the collapse of a part or all of a lung, leading to reduced ventilation and oxygen exchange. In the context of brain death, important brain functions that regulate breathing and ensure adequate oxygenation are lost, which can result in poor ventilation and atelectasis. This contributes to decreased levels of oxygen reaching the bloodstream and subsequently the brain, creating a state of hypoxia.

Understanding this mechanism is essential for recognizing the complications associated with brain death, as well as the management of patients in critical care. While dehydration, high blood pressure, and anemia can affect overall health and body function, they are not direct or common causes of hypoxia specifically related to brain death. These conditions have their own complications, but they do not impact gas exchange in the lungs to the same extent that atelectasis does.