A patient has pulmonary edema. For what condition should the healthcare professional assess the patient as the priority?

Aortic stenosis

Left-sided heart failure

Mitral valve prolapse

Right-sided heart failure

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Aortic stenosis: Aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure due to left ventricular outflow obstruction, but it is not the most direct cause of pulmonary edema. This condition may present with other symptoms, such as chest pain or syncope, rather than fluid accumulation in the lungs.

B. Left-sided heart failure: Left-sided heart failure is a primary cause of pulmonary edema, as it leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation and fluid leakage into the alveoli. Assessing for this condition is crucial, as it directly contributes to the patient's pulmonary edema and requires immediate management.

C. Mitral valve prolapse: Mitral valve prolapse can cause mitral regurgitation and lead to heart failure, but it is less commonly associated with acute pulmonary edema compared to left-sided heart failure. While assessment is important, it is not the priority in this scenario.

D. Right-sided heart failure: Right-sided heart failure typically leads to systemic congestion and peripheral edema rather than pulmonary edema. While it can coexist with left-sided heart failure, it is not the primary concern when assessing a patient specifically for pulmonary edema.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Left heart failure: COPD primarily affects the lungs and increases pulmonary vascular resistance, leading to right-sided heart strain rather than left heart failure. Left heart failure is more commonly associated with conditions such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and valvular diseases, which impair the heart’s ability to pump blood systemically.

B. Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart muscle becomes stiff and loses its ability to relax and fill properly, often due to infiltrative diseases such as amyloidosis or sarcoidosis. COPD does not directly lead to restrictive cardiomyopathy, as its primary cardiovascular complication is increased pulmonary resistance causing right heart strain.

C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, usually due to genetic mutations. It primarily affects the left ventricle and impairs diastolic filling. COPD does not cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as its cardiovascular effects are due to pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular overload rather than structural abnormalities of the myocardium.

D. Right heart failure: Chronic COPD leads to persistent pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxic vasoconstriction and remodeling of pulmonary vessels. This increased pulmonary vascular resistance forces the right ventricle to work harder to pump blood into the lungs, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and eventual right heart failure, also known as cor pulmonale. Symptoms include peripheral edema, jugular vein distention, and hepatomegaly due to systemic venous congestion.

A. Prolonged PR interval B. ST depression C. OST elevation D. Prolonged QT interval

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Prolonged PR interval: A prolonged PR interval is typically indicative of first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block and does not specifically relate to the presence of myocardial infarction (MI) that extends through the myocardium.

B. ST depression: ST depression can indicate subendocardial ischemia, but it is not a definitive change associated with a full-thickness myocardial infarction. It is more commonly seen during stress testing or in cases of angina rather than a transmural infarction.

C. ST elevation: ST elevation is a characteristic finding in cases of transmural myocardial infarction (MI), indicating that the injury extends through the myocardium from the endocardium to the epicardium. This elevation occurs due to the acute injury to the myocardial cells, leading to changes in the electrical activity as reflected on the ECG.

D. Prolonged QT interval: A prolonged QT interval is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias but does not specifically indicate a myocardial infarction that penetrates through the myocardium. It is generally not directly related to the ischemic process of an MI.

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A patient has pulmonary edema. For what condition should the healthcare professional assess the patient as the priority?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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