Which of these interventions should be the highest priority when caring for a patient with suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture?
Obtaining a STAT electrocardiogram
Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter
Increasing cardiac contractility
Maintaining blood pressure
The Correct Answer is D
A. Obtaining a STAT electrocardiogram: While obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) can be important in evaluating a patient's cardiac status, it is not the highest priority in the context of suspected AAA rupture. Immediate management focuses on stabilizing the patient and addressing potential hemorrhagic shock.
B. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter: Inserting a urinary catheter may be necessary for monitoring urine output, but it is not the immediate priority when managing a suspected AAA rupture. The focus should be on life-threatening conditions first.
C. Increasing cardiac contractility: Increasing cardiac contractility may be relevant in some clinical situations, but it does not directly address the urgent need to maintain hemodynamic stability and prevent shock in a patient with suspected AAA rupture.
D. Maintaining blood pressure: Maintaining blood pressure is the highest priority intervention in this scenario. Patients with a suspected AAA rupture are at high risk for hypovolemic shock due to internal bleeding. Ensuring adequate blood pressure is critical to perfusing vital organs and stabilizing the patient before surgical intervention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Myocardial ischemia: Myocardial ischemia contributes to ventricular remodeling by causing damage to the heart muscle, leading to changes in the size, shape, and function of the ventricles. The process involves cellular and molecular alterations in response to ischemic injury, ultimately resulting in adverse remodeling that can exacerbate heart failure.
B. Right ventricular failure: Right ventricular failure may occur as a consequence of other cardiac conditions but is not a direct contributor to ventricular remodeling. Instead, it is often a result of left-sided heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, making it secondary to the primary pathologic changes.
C. Left ventricular hypertrophy: Left ventricular hypertrophy can occur as a response to chronic pressure overload (such as hypertension) but is a result of ventricular remodeling rather than a direct contributor to the remodeling process itself. It may indicate underlying issues rather than cause them.
D. Contractile dysfunction: Contractile dysfunction reflects impaired heart muscle contraction but does not directly cause ventricular remodeling. While it can be a consequence of remodeling due to conditions like ischemia or heart failure, it does not initiate the remodeling process itself.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Obstructive: Obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by increased resistance in the airways, making it more difficult to expire air. Conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lead to airflow limitation, requiring greater force to expel air from the lungs.
B. Communicable: Communicable pulmonary diseases refer to infections that can be transmitted from person to person, such as tuberculosis or influenza. This classification does not directly relate to the mechanics of airflow and does not specifically require more force to expire air.
C. Acute: Acute pulmonary disease describes a sudden onset of symptoms, which can be caused by various conditions (e.g., pneumonia or pulmonary embolism). The term "acute" does not inherently indicate a need for increased expiratory force and can encompass both obstructive and restrictive patterns.
D. Restrictive: Restrictive pulmonary disease involves reduced lung volume and compliance, making it difficult to expand the lungs fully during inspiration. While patients may struggle to inhale adequately, they typically do not require increased force to expire air, as expiratory airflow is usually not obstructed in the same manner as in obstructive diseases.
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