Immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 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

Many patients with aortic aneurysms also have peripheral arterial disease, so the nurse should check the preoperative assessment to determine 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 30 minutes before taking action. Warm blankets will not improve the circulation to the patient's legs.

Immediately After Repair of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, a Patient