Med/Surg Ch. 30 Assessment and Management of Patients with Vascular Disorders and Problems of Peripheral Circulation EXAM WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

Med/Surg Ch. 30 Assessment and Management of Patients with Vascular Disorders and Problems of Peripheral Circulation EXAM WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS The nurse is taking a health history of a new patient. The patient reports experiencing pain in his left lower leg and foot when walking. This pain is relieved with rest. The nurse notes that the left lower leg is slightly edematous and is hairless. When planning this patients subsequent care, the nurse should most likely address what health problem? A) Coronary artery disease (CAD) B) Intermittent claudication C) Arterial embolus D) Raynauds disease - ANSB) Intermittent claudication A muscular, cramp-type pain in the extremities consistently reproduced with the same degree of exercise or activity and relieved by rest is experienced by patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency. Referred to as intermittent claudication, this pain is caused by the inability of the arterial system to provide adequate blood flow to the tissues in the face of increased demands for nutrients and oxygen during exercise. The nurse would not suspect the patient has CAD, arterial embolus, or Raynauds disease; none of these health problems produce this cluster of signs and symptoms. While assessing a patient the nurse notes that the patients ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the right leg is 0.40. How should the nurse best respond to this assessment finding?A) Assess the patients use of over-the-counter dietary supplements. B)Implement interventions relevant to arterial narrowing. C)Encourage the patient to increase intake of foods high in vitamin K. D)Adjust the patients activity level to accommodate decreased coronary output. - ANSB) Implement interventions relevant to arterial narrowing ABI is used to assess the degree of stenosis of peripheral arteries. An ABI of less than 1.0 indicates possible claudication of the peripheral arteries. It does not indicate inadequate coronary output. There is no direct indication for changes in vitamin K intake and OTC medications are not likely causative. The nurse is providing care for a patient who has just been diagnosed with peripheral arterial occlusive disease