A patient with peripheral vascular disease has been on pentoxifylline (Trental) for 2 weeks.
Which statements by the patient indicate no need for further patient teaching about the disease? Select all that apply.
"I should quit smoking to improve blood flow.".
"I need to avoid prolonged sitting or standing.".
"I should take my pentoxifylline with meals.".
"I need to limit my physical activity to avoid worsening symptoms.".
Correct Answer : A,B
Pentoxifylline is a medication that improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a condition that causes narrowing of the arteries in the legs. Pentoxifylline can help reduce the symptoms of intermittent claudication, which is cramping pain in the legs that occurs with walking and improves with rest.
Choice A is correct because smoking is a major risk factor for PVD and quitting smoking can improve blood flow and prevent further damage to the arteries.
Choice B is correct because prolonged sitting or standing can reduce blood flow to the legs and worsen symptoms of PVD.
Patients should avoid crossing their legs, wearing tight clothing, or exposing their legs to cold temperatures. They should also elevate their legs when resting and move them frequently.
Choice C is wrong because pentoxifylline should be taken on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two hours after meals, to increase its absorption and effectiveness.
Choice D is wrong because physical activity is beneficial for patients with PVD and intermittent claudication.
Exercise can improve blood circulation, increase muscle strength, reduce pain, and lower cardiovascular risk factors. Patients should be encouraged to walk regularly, as tolerated, and follow a supervised exercise program if available.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that increases the force of heart contractions (positive inotropy) and decreases the heart rate (negative chronotropy) by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in the cardiac cell membranes and affecting the autonomic tone.This helps to improve the symptoms of heart failure and to control the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation.
Choice A is wrong because positive chronotropy means increasing the heart rate, which is the opposite of what digoxin does.
Choice B is wrong because negative inotropy means decreasing the force of heart contractions, which is also the opposite of what digoxin does.
Choice D is wrong because positive inotropy and positive chronotropy would both increase the workload of the heart, which is not desirable in heart failure or atrial fibrillation.
Normal ranges for digoxin are 0.5 to 2 ng/mL for heart failure and 0.8 to 2 ng/mL for atrial fibrillation.Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic window and can cause serious side effects if overdosed or underdosed.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
This is because digoxin can cause bradycardia (slow heart rate) as a side effect, which can be dangerous and require dose adjustment or discontinuation of the medication.Digoxin helps make the heart beat stronger and with a more regular rhythm by inhibiting sodium-potassium ATPase in cardiac cells.It is used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
Choice A is wrong because increasing sodium intake can worsen fluid retention and exacerbate heart failure symptoms.Patients with heart failure should follow a low-sodium diet to reduce the workload on the heart.
Choice B is wrong because checking pulse rate for 30 seconds and multiplying result by 2 is not accurate enough to monitor the effects of digoxin.
Patients taking digoxin should check their pulse rate for one full minute before taking each dose and record it daily.If the pulse rate is too fast or too slow, they should contact their provider.
Choice C is wrong because taking digoxin with food may reduce its absorption and effectiveness.Digoxin should be taken on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two hours after a meal.If nausea occurs, it may be a sign of digoxin toxicity and should be reported to the provider.
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