foundation of nursing practice questions Related

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The nurse is caring for a patient with an advanced stage of breast cancer and the patient has recently learned that her cancer has metastasized. The nurse enters the room and finds the patient struggling to breath and the nurses rapid assessment reveals that the patients jugular veins are distended. The nurse should suspect the development of what oncologic emergency?

  • A. Increased intracranial pressure
  • B. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS)
  • C. Spinal cord compression
  • D. Metastatic tumor of the neck
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a medical emergency that can occur in patients with advanced cancer, such as breast cancer with metastasis. SVCS is caused by the obstruction or compression of the superior vena cava, a large vein that carries blood from the upper body back to the heart. When the superior vena cava is obstructed or compressed, it can lead to symptoms such as difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and distended jugular veins.