The nurse is caring for a child with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. The child's parent asks the nurse, "How does Kawasaki disease affect my child's heart and blood vessels?" On what understanding is the nurse's response based?
Altered blood flow increases cardiac workload with resulting heart failure.
Inflammation weakens blood vessels, leading to aneurysm.
Untreated disease causes mitral valve stenosis.
Increased lipid levels lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
The Correct Answer is B
B Kawasaki disease primarily affects medium-sized arteries, including the coronary arteries. The inflammation associated with Kawasaki disease can weaken the walls of the blood vessels, leading to the formation of aneurysms, particularly in the coronary arteries. Coronary artery aneurysms are a hallmark complication of Kawasaki disease and can increase the risk of myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular problems.
A This option describes a possible consequence of Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease can cause inflammation of the blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, which can lead to the formation of coronary artery aneurysms. These aneurysms can disrupt blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to ischemia and potentially heart failure.
C Mitral valve stenosis is not a typical complication of Kawasaki disease. While Kawasaki disease can affect the cardiovascular system and lead to complications such as coronary artery aneurysms, it does not typically cause mitral valve stenosis.
D Atherosclerosis is not a direct consequence of Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease primarily involves inflammation of the blood vessels rather than changes in lipid levels, which are more commonly associated with conditions such as hyperlipidemia or familial hypercholesterolemia.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
This position, often referred to as the "knee-to-chest" position, is recommended during a cyanotic spell in infants with tetralogy of Fallot because it can help increase venous return to the heart and improve oxygenation. It's important for caregivers to understand this positioning as part of the management for hypercyanotic spells in children with this condition.
A. Placing the baby upright in an infant seat may help improve blood flow and oxygenation, but it's not the recommended position for managing cyanosis in a baby with tetralogy of Fallot.
B. Placing the baby with the head lower than the rest of the body could potentially worsen cyanosis by increasing right-to-left shunting of blood and decreasing pulmonary blood flow.
C. Placing the baby in a supine position with the head elevated worsens pulmonary blood flow by increasing systemic vascular resistance. This position can help worsen cyanosis by promoting better oxygenation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. The narrowing of the aorta results in increased resistance to blood flow beyond the constriction, leading to decreased blood pressure in the lower body, including the legs. As a result, the blood pressure in the arms may be significantly higher than in the legs, creating a notable blood pressure gradient between the upper and lower extremities.
A. Pulmonary edema is not a typical manifestation of coarctation of the aorta. Coarctation of the aorta involves a narrowing of the aortic arch, typically occurring after the branching of the vessels supplying the upper body.
C. Severe cyanosis is not typically associated with coarctation of the aorta. Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood, is more commonly seen in conditions affecting pulmonary circulation or oxygenation of the blood, such as congenital heart defects involving right-to-left shunting of blood.
D. A machine-like murmur is not a typical finding in coarctation of the aorta. The characteristic murmur associated with coarctation of the aorta is a systolic ejection murmur heard best over the back or left axilla.
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