A client who has undergone a femoral to popliteal bypass graft surgery returns to the surgical unit. Which assessments should the nurse perform during the ﬁrst postoperative day?

Assess pulse of affected extremity every 15 minutes at ﬁrst.

Palpate the affected leg for pain during every assessment

Assess the client for signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome every 2 hours.

Perform Doppler evaluation once daily.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : A,B,C,D

Assess pulse of the affected extremity every 15 minutes at ﬁrst: Frequent assessment of the pulse in the affected extremity is important to monitor for any changes in blood ﬂow. This allows the nurse to identify any potential complications such as graft occlusion or compromised circulation promptly.

Palpate the affected leg for pain during every assessment: Assessing for pain in the affected leg is crucial to identify any signs of ischemia or inadequate perfusion. Increased pain could indicate reduced blood ﬂow or other complications that require immediate attention.

Assess the client for signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome every 2 hours: Compartment syndrome can occur after vascular surgeries, and early recognition is vital. The nurse should assess for signs and symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, increased swelling, and tense compartments. Regular assessment every 2 hours can help detect compartment syndrome promptly and prevent further complications.

Perform Doppler evaluation once daily: Doppler evaluation may be ordered by the healthcare provider to assess blood ﬂow and graft patency. However, the frequency of Doppler evaluation may vary depending on the client's condition and the healthcare provider's orders. Once daily assessment is not suﬃcient if there are concerns regarding blood ﬂow or graft viability.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse should best follow up the assessment ﬁnding of an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.40 in the right leg by implementing interventions relevant to arterial narrowing.

An ankle-brachial index is a non-invasive test used to assess peripheral arterial disease (PAD). An ABI value below 0.90 indicates signiﬁcant arterial narrowing and impaired blood ﬂow to the lower extremities. An ABI of 0.40 suggests severe arterial narrowing, which puts the client at risk for reduced perfusion and potential complications such as tissue ischemia, ulceration, and gangrene.

Implementing interventions relevant to arterial narrowing is crucial in this case. These interventions may include:

Collaborating with the healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan: This may involve prescribing medications to improve blood ﬂow, such as antiplatelet agents or vasodilators.
Encouraging lifestyle modiﬁcations: This can include smoking cessation, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet low in saturated fats and high in fruits and vegetables.
Promoting optimal cardiovascular health: This can involve managing other risk factors for arterial narrowing, such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Educating the client about the signs and symptoms of PAD: This includes teaching them to monitor for changes in skin color, temperature, and sensation in the affected limb, as well as the importance of seeking prompt medical attention if these changes occur.

Let's review the other options:

Assessing the client's use of over-the-counter dietary supplements: While it is important to assess for potential interactions between medications and dietary supplements, this would not be the immediate follow-up action for a severely reduced ABI.

Encouraging the client to increase intake of foods high in vitamin K: While maintaining a balanced diet is important for overall health, increasing vitamin K intake is not speciﬁcally indicated for addressing arterial narrowing or improving the ABI.

Adjusting the client's activity level to accommodate decreased coronary output:

Coronary output refers to blood ﬂow to the heart muscle. Arterial narrowing in the leg does not directly affect coronary output. However, it is important to encourage appropriate physical activity for the client based on their overall cardiovascular health and exercise tolerance.

A. Wrap both legs in a warming blanket B. Compare ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment of the pulses C. Document the ﬁndings and recheck in 15 minutes. D. Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse should prioritize notifying the surgeon and anesthesiologist as the ﬁrst action. The absent pulses, coolness, and mottled appearance of the leg indicate potential compromised blood ﬂow to the lower extremity, which could be a sign of vascular compromise or acute limb ischemia. These ﬁndings are concerning after the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and require immediate medical attention.

Wrap both legs in a warming blanket: While it is important to maintain the client's body temperature, this action alone may not address the underlying issue of compromised blood ﬂow and potential limb ischemia. Notifying the surgeon and anesthesiologist is the priority to address the immediate concern.

Compare ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment of the pulses: While comparing ﬁndings to the preoperative assessment is important for evaluating the client's condition, it should not delay immediate action. The priority in this situation is to promptly notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist to address the potential vascular compromise.

Document the ﬁndings and recheck in 15 minutes: Documenting the ﬁndings is an important step in the nursing process, but it should not take precedence over immediate intervention. The concerning signs of absent pulses, coolness, and mottled appearance require urgent attention, and delaying notiﬁcation could lead to further complications.

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A client who has undergone a femoral to popliteal bypass graft surgery returns to the surgical unit. Which assessments should the nurse perform during the ﬁrst postoperative day?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While assessing a client, the nurse notes that the client's ankle-brachial index (ABI) of the right leg is 0.40. How should the nurse best follow up this assessment ﬁnding?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a client immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. On assessment, the client has absent popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses. The leg cool and mottled. Which action should the nurse take ﬁrst?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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