Question

The nurse is caring for a client who develops compartment syndrome after an embolectomy for peripheral arterial disease. What is the nurse's best action?

a. Perform passive range-of-motion exercise to improve distal blood flow.
b. Prepare the client for return to the operative suite for surgical correction.
c. Medicate the client for pain and place the client in a knee-chest position.
d. Loosen the dressing and elevate the extremity to the level of the heart.

Answer 1

The nurse's best action is to loosen the dressing and elevate the extremity to the level of the heart.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's best action when caring for a client who develops compartment syndrome after an embolectomy for peripheral arterial disease is to loosen the dressing and elevate the extremity to the level of the heart. Compartment syndrome occurs when there is increased pressure within a muscle compartment, leading to compression of blood vessels and nerves. Loosening the dressing and elevating the extremity helps to relieve the pressure and improve blood flow.