Question

Which assessment finding will the nurse expect when caring for a client with right ventricular failure?

A. Pulmonary congestion
B. Lower leg edema
C. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
D. Crackles in the lungs

Answer 1

The expected assessment finding for a client with right ventricular failure is lower leg edema due to increased pressure in the systemic circulation leading to fluid leakage into tissue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question addresses a clinical assessment finding characteristic of right ventricular failure. In the context of right ventricular failure, the most expected finding is lower leg edema. This occurs because right-heart failure leads to a rise in the pressure in the vena cavae, causing pressure to build up in the systemic circulation.

This buildup can result in the leakage of fluid from the capillaries into the tissues, presenting as edema, particularly in the lower extremities. The other options, including pulmonary congestion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and crackles in the lungs, are more typically associated with left ventricular failure, where fluid backs up into the lungs.