A nurse is assessing a client suspected of having cardiac tamponade. Which of the following findings indicates the presence of pulsus paradoxus?

A. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is commonly found in the suprarenal aorta: This statement is incorrect. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are most commonly found infrarenally, below the level of the renal arteries, rather than in the suprarenal region.

B. An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs as a result of a thickened wall of the abdominal artery: This statement is incorrect. An abdominal aortic aneurysm typically occurs due to weakening of the arterial wall, rather than thickening. The weakened wall allows the arterial wall to bulge or balloon out, forming an aneurysm.

C. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dilation of the abdominal aorta greater than 30 mm in diameter: This statement is correct. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is defined as a localized dilation of the abdominal aorta that exceeds 50% of the normal vessel diameter, typically greater than 30 mm in diameter. This dilation occurs due to weakening of the arterial wall, which can result from various factors such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and genetic predisposition.

D. Abdominal aortic aneurysms might rupture if blood pressure is too low: This statement is incorrect. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more likely to rupture when blood pressure is too high, rather than too low. Hypertension increases the pressure within the weakened arterial wall, potentially leading to rupture. Therefore, controlling blood pressure is crucial in managing abdominal aortic aneurysms to reduce the risk of rupture.

A. "Vision changes occur when the retina begins to breakdown and collect bits of debris": This statement does not accurately describe the changes that occur in the eye during retinal detachment. Vision changes in retinal detachment primarily occur due to the separation of the retina from its underlying tissue layers, rather than the breakdown and collection of debris within the retina.

B. "Vision changes occur when retinal tissue pulls away from the blood vessels in the eye": Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, pulls away from its normal position along the inner wall of the eye. This separation disrupts the blood supply to the retina, leading to vision changes. The most common symptom of retinal detachment is the sudden appearance of floaters or flashes of light in the visual field, followed by a shadow or curtain effect as the detachment progresses. Therefore, this statement accurately describes the pathophysiological mechanism underlying vision changes in retinal detachment.

C. "Vision changes occur when the cloudy lens alters the passage of light through the eye": This statement describes changes associated with cataracts, not retinal detachment. Cataracts involve clouding of the lens inside the eye, which can lead to vision changes such as blurriness or decreased visual acuity. However, cataracts are distinct from retinal detachment, which involves the separation of the retina from the inner wall of the eye.

D. "Vision changes occur suddenly due to complete obstruction of aqueous humor outflow": This statement describes the pathophysiology of acute angle-closure glaucoma, not retinal detachment. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is characterized by sudden elevation of intraocular pressure due to complete obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor, leading to rapid onset of symptoms such as severe eye pain, blurred vision, and halos around lights. Retinal detachment, on the other hand, is characterized by the separation of the retina from its normal position, resulting in distinct vision changes such as floaters, flashes of light, and visual field defects.