A parent brings a 10-year-old child to the clinic and reports a mottled appearance to the skin and legs cramps when the child is in physical education class. What diagnostic testing or treatment does the healthcare professional prepare the family for?
A)Immediate cardiac catheterization
B)Administration of prostaglandin
C)Multiple-stage surgical correction
D)An echocardiogram

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clinical manifestations of coarctation of the aorta include hypertension noted in the upper extremities with decreased or absent pulses in the lower extremities. Children may also have cool mottled skin and occasionally experience leg cramps during exercise. An echocardiogram would be used to diagnose the condition. In an older child, percutaneous balloon dilation angioplasty with or without stent implantation may be a good treatment option, however; an immediate cardiac catheterization is not needed at this time. Prostaglandin is used to stabilize a newborn prior to surgical correction is typically straightforward unless the COA is part of another condition. The healthcare professional would educate the family on the echocardiogram.

A Parent Brings a 10-Year-Old Child to the Clinic and Reports