Nokea
The patient has just returned to the floor after balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve and the nurse is planning appropriate assessments. The nurse should know that complications following this procedure include what?
- A. Emboli
- B. Mitral valve damage
- C. Ventricular dysrhythmia
- D. Atrial-septal defect
- E. Plaque formation
Correct Answer: A,B,C
Rationale: Possible complications include aortic regurgitation, emboli, ventricular perforation, rupture of the aortic valve annulus, ventricular dysrhythmia, mitral valve damage, and bleeding from the catheter insertion sites. Atrial-septal defect and plaque formation are not complications of a balloon valvuloplasty.
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A patient with mitral valve stenosis is receiving health education at an outpatient clinic. To minimize the patients symptoms, the nurse should teach the patient to do which of the following?
- A. Eat a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
- B. Avoid activities that cause an increased heart rate.
- C. Avoid large crowds and public events.
- D. Perform deep breathing and coughing exercises.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with mitral stenosis are advised to avoid strenuous activities, competitive sports, and pregnancy, all of which increase heart rate. Infection prevention is important, but avoiding crowds is not usually necessary. Deep breathing and coughing are not likely to prevent exacerbations of symptoms and increased protein intake is not necessary.
The nurse is auscultating the breath sounds of a patient with pericarditis. What finding is most consistent with this diagnosis?
- A. Wheezes
- B. Friction rub
- C. Fine crackles
- D. Coarse crackles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A pericardial friction rub is diagnostic of pericarditis. Crackles are associated with pulmonary edema and fluid accumulation, whereas wheezes signal airway constriction; neither of these occurs with pericarditis.
The nurse is caring for a patient with mitral stenosis who is scheduled for a balloon valvuloplasty. The patient tells the nurse that he is unsure why the surgeon did not opt to replace his damaged valve rather than repairing it. What is an advantage of valvuloplasty that the nurse should cite?
- A. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis in a physicians office.
- B. Repaired valves tend to function longer than replaced valves.
- C. The procedure is not associated with a risk for infection.
- D. Lower doses of antirejection drugs are required than with valve replacement.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In general, valves that undergo valvuloplasty function longer than prosthetic valve replacements and patients do not require continuous anticoagulation. Valvuloplasty carries a risk of infection, like all surgical procedures, and it is not performed in a physicians office. Antirejection drugs are unnecessary because foreign tissue is not introduced.
A patient has been admitted with an aortic valve stenosis and has been scheduled for a balloon valvuloplasty in the cardiac catheterization lab later today. During the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse he has thoracolumbar scoliosis and is concerned about lying down for any extended period of time. What is a priority action for the nurse?
- A. Arrange for an alternative bed.
- B. Measure the degree of the curvature.
- C. Notify the surgeon immediately.
- D. Note the scoliosis on the intake assessment.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Most often used for mitral and aortic valve stenosis, balloon valvuloplasty is contraindicated for patients with left atrial or ventricular thrombus, severe aortic root dilation, significant mitral valve regurgitation, thoracolumbar scoliosis, rotation of the great vessels, and other cardiac conditions that require open heart surgery. Therefore notifying the physician would be the priority over further physical assessment. An alternative bed would be unnecessary and documentation is not a sufficient response.
The critical care nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving cyclosporine postoperative heart transplant. The patient asks the nurse to remind him what this medication is for. How should the nurse best respond?
- A. Azathioprine decreases the risk of thrombus formation.
- B. Azathioprine ensures adequate cardiac output.
- C. Azathioprine increases the number of white blood cells.
- D. Azathioprine minimizes rejection of the transplant.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After heart transplant, patients are constantly balancing the risk of rejection with the risk of infection. Most commonly, patients receive cyclosporine or tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), azathioprine (Imuran), or mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), and corticosteroids (prednisone) to minimize rejection. Cyclosporine does not prevent thrombus formation, enhance cardiac output, or increase white cell counts.