A postoperative home care client has developed thrombophlebitis in her right leg.
What category of medications will probably be prescribed for this cardiovascular complication?
Anticoagulant medication
Antibiotic medication
Antigen medication
Antihistamine medication
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Anticoagulant medications are the mainstay of treatment for thrombophlebitis. They work by preventing the formation of new blood clots and allowing the body's natural clot-dissolving mechanisms to break down existing clots. This helps to reduce the risk of the clot growing larger, breaking off, and traveling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which is a potentially life threatening complication.
Here is a detailed explanation of how anticoagulants work:
Blood clotting process: Blood clotting, also known as coagulation, is a complex process that involves multiple steps and factors. When a blood vessel is injured, a series of reactions occur to form a blood clot, which helps to stop bleeding.
Role of thrombin: Thrombin is a crucial enzyme in the clotting process. It converts fibrinogen, a soluble protein in the blood, into fibrin, which forms the mesh-like structure of blood clots.
Anticoagulants target thrombin: Anticoagulant medications work by inhibiting thrombin activity, thereby preventing the formation of fibrin and subsequent clot formation.
Different types of anticoagulants: There are several types of anticoagulant medications, each with different mechanisms of action. Some common types include:
Heparin: Heparin binds to antithrombin III, a natural anticoagulant in the body, and enhances its ability to inactivate thrombin and other clotting factors.
Warfarin: Warfarin blocks the production of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors in the liver.
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs): DOACs directly inhibit specific clotting factors, such as factor Xa or thrombin.
Choice B rationale:
Antibiotic medications are used to treat bacterial infections. Thrombophlebitis is not a bacterial infection, so antibiotics would not be effective in treating it.
Choice C rationale:
Antigen medications are not a category of medications. Antigens are substances that trigger an immune response in the body.
Choice D rationale:
Antihistamine medications are used to treat allergic reactions. They block the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the body during an allergic reaction. Antihistamines would not be effective in treating thrombophlebitis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Tertiary health promotion and illness prevention focus on managing existing health conditions and preventing complications. Administering a nebulized bronchodilator to a client who is short of breath directly addresses an existing respiratory problem, aiming to relieve symptoms and prevent further respiratory distress. This intervention falls under tertiary prevention because it targets a client already experiencing respiratory symptoms.
Key points:
Bronchodilators open constricted airways, easing airflow and breathing.
Nebulizers deliver medication directly to the lungs, providing rapid relief.
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
Prompt treatment of respiratory symptoms can prevent worsening of the condition and potential complications.
Choice B rationale:
Teaching a client about the risks of light cigarettes is an example of primary prevention. It aims to prevent lung disease before it develops by educating individuals about the harms of smoking.
Choice C rationale:
Advocating for more explicit warning labels on cigarette packages is a form of secondary prevention. It targets at-risk populations (smokers) to encourage behavior change and reduce smoking rates, ultimately lowering the incidence of lung disease.
Choice D rationale:
Assisting with lung function testing is a diagnostic procedure, not a tertiary prevention intervention. It helps to identify respiratory problems but doesn't directly manage or prevent them.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
While urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a potential risk with furosemide use, they are not the most immediate or anticipated effect following initiation of the medication.
UTIs can occur due to changes in urinary flow and potential catheter use.
However, furosemide's primary action is to increase urine output, which would not directly lead to a higher risk of UTIs at the onset of treatment.
Choice B rationale:
Concentrated dark urine is typically associated with dehydration or conditions that cause the kidneys to conserve water, such as kidney disease or severe fluid loss.
Furosemide, on the other hand, is a diuretic that promotes water loss through the urine, leading to more dilute urine.
Choice C rationale:
Transient incontinence can occur with furosemide due to the rapid increase in urine production, but it is not the most predictable or anticipated effect.
Increased urine production is expected, but transient incontinence may or may not occur in all patients.
Choice D rationale:
This is the most accurate and anticipated response.
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that works by inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the loop of Henle in the kidneys.
This leads to a significant increase in urine output, often within a few hours of administration. The urine produced is typically dilute and light-colored, as it contains a higher concentration of water and electrolytes. This is the intended effect of furosemide, as it helps to reduce fluid overload and edema.
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