The nurse is caring for a patient immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. On assessment,the patient has absent popliteal,posterior tibial,and dorsalis pedis pulses. The legs are cool and mottled. Which action should the nurse take first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lower extremity pulses may be absent for a short time after surgery because of vasospasm and hypothermia. Decreased or absent pulses together with a cool and mottled extremity may indicate embolization or graft occlusion. These findings should be reported to the surgeon immediately because this is an emergency situation. Because pulses are marked before surgery,the nurse would know whether pulses were present before surgery before notifying the health care providers about the absent pulses. Because the patient's symptoms may indicate graft occlusion or multiple emboli and a possible need to return to surgery,it is not appropriate to wait 15 minutes before taking action. A warming blanket will not improve the circulation to the patient's legs.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Immediately After Repair