Practice Quiz

CMC Cardiac Medicine Certification

Category - CMC

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An 80-year-old male patient with a history of arteriosclerosis is experiencing severe pain in his left leg that started approximately 20 minutes ago. On performing the admission assessment, the nurse would expect to observe which of the following:
  1. Both lower extremities warm to touch with 2+ pedal pulses
  2. Both lower extremities cyanotic when placed in a dependent position
  3. Decreased or absent pedal pulse in the left leg
  4. The left leg warmer to touch than the right leg
Explanation
Answer- C - While doing admission assessment the nurse should expect decreased or absent pedal pulse in the left leg. Decreased or absent pedal pulses reflect a problem caused by arterial insufficiency. 2+ pedal pulses describe a normal assessment finding of the lower extremities. Both lower extremities cyanotic when placed in a dependent position reflect problems caused by venous insufficiency. The leg that is experiencing arterial insufficiency would be cool to touch due to the decreased circulation.
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