Question

Which circumstance may preclude the use of cutaneous stimulation to relieve a client's pain?

Option 1: The client has difficulty localizing his pain.
Option 2: The client has a history of heart disease.
Option 3: The client is receiving both scheduled and breakthrough analgesia.
Option 4: The client's pain is chronic rather than acute.

Answer 1

The use of cutaneous stimulation may be contraindicated for clients with a history of heart disease due to potential interference with cardiac function. This method involves electrical stimulation is used, which could affect heart rhythm, especially in those with pre-existing heart conditions or using cardiac devices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The circumstance that may preclude the use of cutaneous stimulation to relieve a client's pain is if the client has a history of heart disease. The reason for this precaution is that stimulation techniques, especially those involving electricity, can potentially interfere with heart function, particularly if the client has a history of heart issues or is using a cardiac pacemaker. Additionally, cutaneous stimulation may be less effective if the pain is not well-localized or if the pain is chronic rather than acute. However, a history of heart disease poses a significant enough risk to warrant caution and a potential contraindication for such treatments.

In the case of the client receiving both scheduled and breakthrough analgesia, cutaneous stimulation could still be considered as part of a multimodal approach to pain management, as long as there is no contraindication like heart disease.