Which of the following signs and symptoms usually signifies rapid expansion and impend-
1) D. Lower back pain. Lower back pain results from expansion of the aneurysm. The expansion
ing rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
applies pressure in the abdomen, and the pain is referred to the lower back. Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain.
is the most common symptom resulting from impaired circulation. Absent pedal pulses are
Absent pedal pulses.
a sign of no circulation and would occur after a ruptured aneurysm or in peripheral vascular
Chest pain.
disease. Chest pain usually is associated with coronary artery or pulmonary disease.
Lower back pain.
2) With which of the following disorders is jugular vein distention most prominent?
B. Heart failure. Elevated venous pressure, exhibited as jugular vein distention, indicates a
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
failure of the heart to pump. Jugular vein distention isn't a symptom of abdominal aortic
Heart failure
aneurysm or pneumothorax. An MI, if severe enough, can progress to heart failure; however,
Myocardial infarction
in and of itself, an MI doesn't cause jugular vein distention.
Pneumothorax
3) What is the most common cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Atherosclerosis A. Atherosclerosis . Atherosclerosis accounts for 75% of all abdominal aortic aneurysms.
DM Plaques build up on the wall of the vessel and weaken it, causing an aneurysm. Although the
HPN other conditions are related to the development of an aneurysm, none is a direct cause.
Syphilis
4) In which of the following areas is an abdominal aortic aneurysm most commonly located? B. Distal to the renal arteries. The portion of the aorta distal to the renal arteries is more
Distal to the iliac arteries prone to an aneurysm because the vessel isn't surrounded by stable structures, unlike the
Distal to the renal arteries proximal portion of the aorta. Distal to the iliac arteries, the vessel is again surrounded by
Adjacent to the aortic branch stable vasculature, making this an uncommon site for an aneurysm. There is no area adjacent
Proximal to the renal arteries to the aortic arch, which bends into the thoracic (descending) aorta.
5) A pulsating abdominal mass usually indicates which of the following conditions?
A. Abdominal aortic aneurysm. The presence of a pulsating mass in the abdomen is an
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
abnormal finding, usually indicating an outpouching in a weakened vessel, as in abdominal
Enlarged spleen
aortic aneurysm. The finding, however, can be normal on a thin person. Neither an enlarged
Gastic distention
spleen, gastritis, nor gastic distention cause pulsation.
Gastritis
6) What is the most common symptom in a client with abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A. Abdominal pain. Abdominal pain in a client with an abdominal aortic aneurysm results from
Abdominal pain
the disruption of normal circulation in the abdominal region. Lower back pain, not upper, is
Diaphoresis
a common symptom, usually signifying expansion and impending rupture of the aneurysm.
Headache
Headache and diaphoresis aren't associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Upper back pain
Which of the following symptoms usually signifies rapid expansion and impending rupture
7) D. Lower back pain . Lower back pain results from expansion of the aneurysm. The expansion
of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
applies pressure in the abdominal cavity, and the pain is referred to the lower back. Abdominal
Abdominal pain
pain is most common symptom resulting from impaired circulation. Absent pedal pulses are
Absent pedal pulses
a sign of no circulation and would occur after a ruptured aneurysm or in peripheral vascular
Angina
disease. Angina is associated with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
Lower back pain
8) What is the definitive test used to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
B. Arteriogram . An arteriogram accurately and directly depicts the vasculature; therefore, it
Abdominal X-ray
clearly delineates the vessels and any abnormalities. An abdominal aneurysm would only be
Arteriogram
visible on an X-ray if it were calcified. CT scan and ultrasound don't give a direct view of the
CT scan
vessels and don't yield as accurate a diagnosis as the arteriogram.
Ultrasound
Which of the following complications is of greatest concern when caring for a preoperative
9) B. Aneurysm rupture. Rupture of the aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency and is of the
abdominal aneurysm client?
greatest concern for the nurse caring for this type of client. Hypertension should be avoided
HPN
and controlled because it can cause the weakened vessel to rupture. Diminished pedal pulses,
Aneurysm rupture
a sign of poor circulation to the lower extremities, are associated with an aneurysm but isn't
Cardiac arrythmias
life threatening. Cardiac arrhythmias aren't directly linked to an aneurysm.
Diminished pedal pulses
1/3
1) D. Lower back pain. Lower back pain results from expansion of the aneurysm. The expansion
ing rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
applies pressure in the abdomen, and the pain is referred to the lower back. Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain.
is the most common symptom resulting from impaired circulation. Absent pedal pulses are
Absent pedal pulses.
a sign of no circulation and would occur after a ruptured aneurysm or in peripheral vascular
Chest pain.
disease. Chest pain usually is associated with coronary artery or pulmonary disease.
Lower back pain.
2) With which of the following disorders is jugular vein distention most prominent?
B. Heart failure. Elevated venous pressure, exhibited as jugular vein distention, indicates a
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
failure of the heart to pump. Jugular vein distention isn't a symptom of abdominal aortic
Heart failure
aneurysm or pneumothorax. An MI, if severe enough, can progress to heart failure; however,
Myocardial infarction
in and of itself, an MI doesn't cause jugular vein distention.
Pneumothorax
3) What is the most common cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Atherosclerosis A. Atherosclerosis . Atherosclerosis accounts for 75% of all abdominal aortic aneurysms.
DM Plaques build up on the wall of the vessel and weaken it, causing an aneurysm. Although the
HPN other conditions are related to the development of an aneurysm, none is a direct cause.
Syphilis
4) In which of the following areas is an abdominal aortic aneurysm most commonly located? B. Distal to the renal arteries. The portion of the aorta distal to the renal arteries is more
Distal to the iliac arteries prone to an aneurysm because the vessel isn't surrounded by stable structures, unlike the
Distal to the renal arteries proximal portion of the aorta. Distal to the iliac arteries, the vessel is again surrounded by
Adjacent to the aortic branch stable vasculature, making this an uncommon site for an aneurysm. There is no area adjacent
Proximal to the renal arteries to the aortic arch, which bends into the thoracic (descending) aorta.
5) A pulsating abdominal mass usually indicates which of the following conditions?
A. Abdominal aortic aneurysm. The presence of a pulsating mass in the abdomen is an
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
abnormal finding, usually indicating an outpouching in a weakened vessel, as in abdominal
Enlarged spleen
aortic aneurysm. The finding, however, can be normal on a thin person. Neither an enlarged
Gastic distention
spleen, gastritis, nor gastic distention cause pulsation.
Gastritis
6) What is the most common symptom in a client with abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A. Abdominal pain. Abdominal pain in a client with an abdominal aortic aneurysm results from
Abdominal pain
the disruption of normal circulation in the abdominal region. Lower back pain, not upper, is
Diaphoresis
a common symptom, usually signifying expansion and impending rupture of the aneurysm.
Headache
Headache and diaphoresis aren't associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Upper back pain
Which of the following symptoms usually signifies rapid expansion and impending rupture
7) D. Lower back pain . Lower back pain results from expansion of the aneurysm. The expansion
of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
applies pressure in the abdominal cavity, and the pain is referred to the lower back. Abdominal
Abdominal pain
pain is most common symptom resulting from impaired circulation. Absent pedal pulses are
Absent pedal pulses
a sign of no circulation and would occur after a ruptured aneurysm or in peripheral vascular
Angina
disease. Angina is associated with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
Lower back pain
8) What is the definitive test used to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
B. Arteriogram . An arteriogram accurately and directly depicts the vasculature; therefore, it
Abdominal X-ray
clearly delineates the vessels and any abnormalities. An abdominal aneurysm would only be
Arteriogram
visible on an X-ray if it were calcified. CT scan and ultrasound don't give a direct view of the
CT scan
vessels and don't yield as accurate a diagnosis as the arteriogram.
Ultrasound
Which of the following complications is of greatest concern when caring for a preoperative
9) B. Aneurysm rupture. Rupture of the aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency and is of the
abdominal aneurysm client?
greatest concern for the nurse caring for this type of client. Hypertension should be avoided
HPN
and controlled because it can cause the weakened vessel to rupture. Diminished pedal pulses,
Aneurysm rupture
a sign of poor circulation to the lower extremities, are associated with an aneurysm but isn't
Cardiac arrythmias
life threatening. Cardiac arrhythmias aren't directly linked to an aneurysm.
Diminished pedal pulses
1/3
