A nurse is teaching a client who has arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy about the risk for sudden cardiac death. Which of the following client statements indicates to the nurse an understanding of the teaching?

A. Lower back or groin pain: Lower back or groin pain can be an early manifestation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This pain may result from pressure exerted by the enlarging aneurysm on surrounding structures or from irritation of nerves as the aneurysm expands. As the aneurysm enlarges, the pain may become more severe and persistent.

B. Hunger after eating: Hunger after eating is not typically associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This symptom may be indicative of various gastrointestinal issues such as peptic ulcer disease or gastritis, but it is not a characteristic manifestation of AAA.

C. Pain in the chest: While AAA can lead to compression of nearby structures, resulting in referred pain, chest pain is not a common early manifestation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Chest pain is more commonly associated with cardiac issues such as angina or myocardial infarction.

D. Presence of Cullen's sign: Cullen's sign refers to periumbilical bruising, which can occur due to retroperitoneal hemorrhage from a ruptured AAA. However, Cullen's sign is not an early manifestation of an AAA; it is typically observed in more advanced cases or after rupture has occurred.

Tonometer intraocular pressure reading 8 mm Hg (Option A): A low intraocular pressure reading may indicate a detached retina. In a detached retina, the vitreous humor (gel-like substance in the eye) may leak into the space behind the retina, causing a decrease in intraocular pressure. However, it's important to note that intraocular pressure alone cannot definitively diagnose a detached retina, and further diagnostic tests, such as a dilated eye examination or retinal imaging, would be needed for confirmation.

Smooth retina edges identified on slit-lamp biomicroscope examination (Option B): In the case of a detached retina, the edges of the retina may appear irregular or undulating rather than smooth. This irregularity is often observed during a dilated eye examination rather than with a slit-lamp biomicroscope.

Visual acuity of 20/20 using the Snellen eye chart (Option C): Visual acuity may be affected in a detached retina, depending on the extent and location of the detachment. However, visual acuity alone cannot confirm a detached retina, as other factors such as refractive errors or cataracts can also affect visual acuity.

Lens and cornea appear intact during ophthalmoscope exam (Option D): While a detached retina may be visualized during an ophthalmoscope examination as a gray or whitish area behind the lens, the appearance of the lens and cornea being intact does not definitively diagnose a detached retina. A thorough dilated eye examination by an ophthalmologist is necessary for accurate diagnosis.