The parent of a 1-year-old child with tetralogy of Fallot asks the nurse, "Why do my child's fingertips look like that?" On what understanding does the nurse base a response?
Clubbing occurs as a result of decreased cardiac output.
Clubbing occurs as a result of a left-to-right shunting of blood.
Clubbing occurs as a result of chronic hypoxia
Clubbing occurs as a result of untreated congestive heart failure.
The Correct Answer is C
C. Clubbing, characterized by bulbous enlargement of the fingertips and nail bed, is a result of chronic hypoxia in tetralogy of Fallot. In tetralogy of Fallot, there is a right-to-left shunting of blood due to the presence of a ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy. This leads to reduced oxygenation of blood and chronic hypoxia, which can result in clubbing of the fingertips over time.

A This option is not the primary explanation for clubbing in tetralogy of Fallot. While decreased cardiac output may contribute to some manifestations of the condition, clubbing specifically results from chronic hypoxia rather than decreased cardiac output alone.
B Clubbing is not directly caused by a left-to-right shunting of blood. Instead, it is associated with chronic hypoxia, which can occur due to right-to-left shunting of blood in tetralogy of Fallot.
D Congestive heart failure may occur in individuals with tetralogy of Fallot but it is not the primary cause of clubbing. Clubbing in tetralogy of Fallot is primarily attributed to chronic hypoxia rather than heart failure alone.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]
Explanation
A. Decreased cardiac output in heart failure can lead to poor perfusion of the extremities, resulting in cool skin and decreased urine output due to reduced renal perfusion and impaired kidney function.
D. Poor feeding is often observed due to increased respiratory effort, tachypnea, and fatigue associated with heart failure. Additionally, infants may exhibit failure to thrive or inadequate weight gain despite increased caloric intake due to metabolic demands and inefficient utilization of nutrients.
E. Tachypnea and respiratory distress occur due to pulmonary congestion and increased respiratory effort in response to heart failure. Infants may exhibit signs such as nasal flaring, grunting, retractions, and cyanosis.
B. Bradycardia and hypotension are not typical manifestations of heart failure in infants. Instead, infants with heart failure often present with tachycardia (rapid heart rate) as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output. Hypotension may occur in severe cases but is not a common finding.
C. Increased appetite and excessive weight gain are not typical manifestations of heart failure in infants. Infants with heart failure often experience poor feeding and failure to thrive due to inadequate cardiac output and oxygen delivery to meet metabolic demands.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. Leaning forward with the chin thrust out, often described as the "sniffing position," is a classic sign of airway obstruction, particularly in cases of epiglottitis. This positioning helps to maximize airway patency by opening the airway and reducing the risk of further obstruction.
A. Leaning forward with the chin thrust out is not typically associated with extreme fatigue. Instead, it is a specific positioning often seen in individuals with epiglottitis to help alleviate airway obstruction and facilitate breathing.
C. Leaning forward with the chin thrust out is not indicative of dehydration. Dehydration may present with other signs and symptoms such as dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output, sunken fontanelle (in infants), and poor skin turgor.
D. Pain may be present in a child with epiglottitis but leaning forward with the chin thrust out is not primarily indicative of pain. This positioning is primarily a compensatory mechanism to alleviate airway obstruction rather than a response to pain.
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