A patient reports leg pain that awakens the patient at night.
The patient reports that the same pain develops in the legs when they are elevated and disappears when the legs are dangled.
Which condition would the nurse suspect?
Peripheral arterial disease.
Lymphatic obstruction.
Chronic venous insufficiency.
Musculoskeletal abnormalities.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
The patient's symptoms of leg pain that worsens at night and occurs when the legs are elevated but improves when they are dangled are indicative of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) PAD is a condition caused by the narrowing of arteries in the legs due to atherosclerosis. This narrowing restricts blood flow to the muscles, causing pain, especially during activities or positions that demand increased blood flow like walking or elevating the legs.
Choice B rationale:
Lymphatic obstruction typically does not cause pain in the same manner described by the patient. Lymphatic obstruction may cause swelling and discomfort, but it usually does not lead to pain that worsens with elevation and improves with dangling.
Choice C rationale:
Chronic venous insufficiency can cause leg pain and swelling, especially when standing for extended periods. However, the characteristic of pain worsening at night and with leg elevation points more towards arterial issues like PAD rather than venous insufficiency.
Choice D rationale:
Musculoskeletal abnormalities could cause localized pain, but the pattern described by the patient (worsening at night, relief with dangling) is not typical of musculoskeletal issues. PAD, on the other hand, often presents with these specific symptoms due to compromised blood flow to the muscles in the legs.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Triple-drug therapy is not the standard treatment for pernicious anemia after a gastrectomy. Pernicious anemia is primarily caused by vitamin B12 deficiency due to the absence of intrinsic factor, which is essential for vitamin B12 absorption.
Choice B rationale:
IV therapy is a broad term and does not specify the treatment for pernicious anemia. In the context of pernicious anemia, cobalamin replacement therapy administered via intramuscular injections is the preferred treatment.
Choice C rationale:
Quadruple-drug therapy is not a recognized treatment for pernicious anemia. The primary treatment for pernicious anemia involves cobalamin replacement therapy to address the vitamin B12 deficiency.
Choice D rationale:
Cobalamin replacement therapy is the appropriate treatment for pernicious anemia after a gastrectomy. Since the patient lacks intrinsic factor, which is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption, cobalamin replacement therapy bypasses the need for intrinsic factor and provides the necessary vitamin B12 directly.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Fullness from ascites is a symptom associated with conditions like liver cirrhosis, not directly related to chronic heart failure. Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, causing a feeling of fullness and abdominal discomfort.
Choice B rationale:
Hypoproteinemia, a condition characterized by low levels of proteins in the blood, can lead to fluid retention and edema. However, it is not a direct cause of frequent urination. Frequent urination in this context is more likely related to increased fluid volume in the body, which can be caused by increased renal perfusion in the supine position due to fluid redistribution from the lower extremities to the kidneys.
Choice C rationale:
Hypoperfusion to the brain can lead to neurological symptoms, but it does not directly cause frequent urination. Frequent urination is often related to the kidneys' ability to filter excess fluid and excrete it as urine.
Choice D rationale:
Increased renal perfusion in the supine position can cause frequent urination, especially at night. When a person with chronic heart failure lies down, fluid that has accumulated in the lower extremities (edema) during the day is redistributed to the kidneys due to the change in body position. This increased renal perfusion results in an increased production of urine, leading to nocturia (frequent urination at night) and disrupting the patient's ability to sleep well. This symptom is characteristic of heart failure-related fluid overload and is an important clinical sign indicating worsening heart failure.
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