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During a cardiac assessment on a 38-year-old patient in the hospital for "chest pain," the nurse finds the following: jugular vein pulsations 4 cm above the sternal angle when the patient is elevated at 45 degrees, blood pressure 98/60 mm Hg, heart rate 130 beats per minute, ankle edema, difficulty breathing when supine, and an S3 on auscultation. Which of these conditions best explains the cause of these findings?
A) Heart failure
B) Fluid overload
C) Atrial septal defect
D) Myocardial infarction
Myocardial Infarction
A medical condition, commonly known as a heart attack, resulting from the interruption of blood flow to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die.
Heart Failure
A medical condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently throughout the body, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and fluid retention.
Jugular Vein Pulsations
Observable pulsing of the jugular veins in the neck, which can indicate the heart's function and central venous pressure.
- Identify the clinical signs of abnormalities in the heart and vascular system.
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Learning Objectives
- Identify the clinical signs of abnormalities in the heart and vascular system.
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