A patient was admitted for terminal heart failure and is now eligible for a transplant. The family wants everything possible done to maintain life. Which procedure might be offered to the patient for this condition to increase the patient's quality of life?
Coronary artery bypass graft
Percutaneous coronary artery intervention
Nothing, because the patient is in terminal heart failure
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. A coronary artery bypass graft is used to treat coronary artery disease but is not typically indicated for end-stage heart failure.
B. Percutaneous coronary intervention is also used for coronary artery disease, not for improving quality of life in terminal heart failure.
C. This option dismisses potential interventions that could improve quality of life, such as an LVAD.
D. An LVAD is a mechanical pump that assists the left ventricle in pumping blood, often used as a bridge to heart transplant or as a long-term solution to improve quality of life in patients with terminal heart failure.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure due to an identifiable cause, such as renal disease, but it does not describe an acute situation with target organ damage.
B. Hypertensive urgency is a situation where the blood pressure is severely elevated but without evidence of target organ damage.
C. Hypertensive emergency is characterized by severely elevated blood pressure with evidence of acute target organ damage, such as encephalopathy, myocardial infarction, or renal failure, requiring immediate medical intervention.
D. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, is high blood pressure without a known secondary cause and does not describe an acute emergency.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Documentation of waveform values is important but does not directly enhance patient safety during monitoring.
B. Limiting the pressure tubing length can help maintain accuracy, but it is not the primary safety measure.
C. Zero referencing is crucial for accurate readings, but it must be done in conjunction with ensuring alarms are active.
D. Ensuring that alarm limits are turned on and appropriately set is the best safety measure to immediately alert the nurse to any critical changes in the patient's status.