Question

After repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the nurse notes that the patient does not have popliteal, posterior tibial, or dorsalis pedis pulses. The legs are cool and mottled. Which action is appropriate for the nurse to take first? Review the preoperative assessment form for data about the pulses.

Answer 1

The nurse's first action should be to review the preoperative assessment form for data about the patient's pulses, to determine if the absence of palpable pulses is a new issue or a preexisting condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

After the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, if the nurse notes that the patient does not have palpable popliteal, posterior tibial, or dorsalis pedis pulses and the legs are cool and mottled, the first action the nurse should take is to review the preoperative assessment form for data about the pulses. This step is crucial to determine if the absence of pulses is a new development or a preexisting condition. The popliteal artery is a continuation of the femoral artery behind the knee, and it branches into the anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery, with the former becoming the dorsalis pedis artery in the foot. A sudden loss of pulses in these areas could indicate a complication such as a thrombosis or embolism, which requires immediate assessment and potential intervention. Evaluation of the pulses can initially be performed by manual palpation and, if necessary, with the use of commercial electronic devices.