Considering the patient's esophageal varices, which of the following nursing interventions would be appropriate in your care of the patient?

Choice A reason: Explaining ways to decrease paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is helpful for managing this specific symptom of heart failure, which involves difficulty breathing at night due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. While this can improve comfort, it doesn't provide a comprehensive approach to managing heart failure symptoms at home.

Choice B reason: Discussing the effects of medications, ways to assess fluid balance, and positions for enhancing respirations offers a comprehensive approach to managing heart failure symptoms at home. Understanding medication effects helps clients adhere to their treatment plan and manage side effects. Assessing fluid balance is crucial for detecting fluid overload early, a common issue in heart failure. Learning positions that enhance respirations can improve breathing and overall comfort.

Choice C reason: Teaching stress management techniques is beneficial for overall well-being and can indirectly improve heart health by reducing stress, which can exacerbate heart failure symptoms. However, it is not as directly related to managing the physical symptoms of heart failure as other interventions.

Choice D reason: Providing a list of support systems in the community is valuable for emotional and practical support, which can improve quality of life for clients with heart failure. However, it does not directly address the physical symptoms or management of heart failure at home.

Choice A reason: Deep vein thrombosis is a condition where blood clots form in the deep veins, usually in the legs. While it is a serious condition, it is not directly associated with portal hypertension in patients with late-stage cirrhosis. Portal hypertension primarily affects the liver and its associated blood vessels, leading to complications within the portal circulation system rather than systemic venous thrombosis.

Choice B reason: Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, and it is a common complication of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis. Increased pressure in the portal vein leads to leakage of fluid into the abdominal cavity, causing distension and discomfort. Ascites can significantly impact the patient's quality of life and requires careful management.

Choice C reason: Splenomegaly, or enlargement of the spleen, is another potential complication of portal hypertension. The increased pressure in the portal vein can cause blood to back up into the spleen, leading to its enlargement. Splenomegaly can result in hypersplenism, where the spleen becomes overactive and destroys blood cells, contributing to anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia.

Choice D reason: Esophageal varices are dilated blood vessels in the esophagus that develop as a result of portal hypertension. The increased pressure in the portal vein causes blood to divert through collateral vessels, including those in the esophagus. These varices can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding, making them a critical complication to monitor in patients with cirrhosis.

Choice E reason: Increased platelet levels are not typically seen in patients with portal hypertension. In fact, portal hypertension and cirrhosis often lead to thrombocytopenia, or low platelet levels, due to splenic sequestration and reduced platelet production. Thrombocytopenia is a more common finding in this patient population.