What is the most common cause of pulmonary edema?
right heart failure
left heart failure
asthma
lung cancer
The Correct Answer is B
A. Right heart failure: Right-sided heart failure primarily leads to systemic venous congestion, causing peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, and ascites. It does not directly cause fluid accumulation in the lungs. Pulmonary edema is not the typical manifestation of right heart failure alone.
B. Left heart failure: Left ventricular failure results in blood backing up into the pulmonary circulation. Increased pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to leak into the alveoli and interstitial spaces. This mechanism makes left heart failure the most common cause of pulmonary edema.
C. Asthma: Asthma involves airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction, leading to airflow obstruction. It does not cause fluid accumulation within the alveoli. Pulmonary edema is not a typical finding in asthma.
D. Lung cancer: Lung cancer may cause localized respiratory symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, or dyspnea. While it can lead to complications, it does not commonly cause acute pulmonary edema. Fluid accumulation in pulmonary edema is usually cardiac in origin.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Increased risk of colon cancer: Chronic inflammation of the colon in ulcerative colitis predisposes clients to dysplasia and an elevated risk of colorectal cancer. The risk increases with disease duration and extent, making regular surveillance essential.
B. Malabsorption in small intestine: Ulcerative colitis primarily affects the colon and rectum. Malabsorption is more characteristic of Crohn’s disease, which can involve the small intestine and impair nutrient absorption.
C. Development of fistulas: Fistula formation is common in Crohn’s disease due to transmural inflammation, whereas ulcerative colitis involves only the mucosa and submucosa, making fistulas rare.
D. Skip lesions: Skip lesions, or patchy areas of inflammation separated by normal tissue, are typical of Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis usually presents with continuous inflammation starting from the rectum, not skip lesions.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Severe chest pain and tachycardia: These symptoms are more characteristic of acute coronary syndromes or myocardial ischemia rather than right-sided heart failure. While tachycardia can occur as a compensatory mechanism, chest pain is not a typical manifestation of right heart failure.
B. Edematous feet and legs with hepatomegaly: Right-sided heart failure leads to systemic venous congestion. This results in peripheral edema, often starting in the feet and legs, and liver congestion causing hepatomegaly. These are classic signs reflecting impaired venous return and fluid accumulation.
C. Orthopnea, fatigue and hypertension: Orthopnea is more commonly associated with left-sided heart failure due to pulmonary congestion. Fatigue can occur in both left and right heart failure, but hypertension and orthopnea are not defining features of isolated right-sided failure.
D. Frequent cough with blood-streaked, frothy sputum: This symptom is indicative of pulmonary edema, which is primarily a result of left-sided heart failure. Right-sided heart failure causes systemic rather than pulmonary congestion.
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