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Postoperative orders for a client undergoing a mitral valve replacement include

monitoring pulmonary artery pressure togetherwith pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
with a pulmonary artery
catheter. This action by the nurse will assess
A) Right ventricular pressure
B) Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
C) Acid-Base balance
D) Coronary artery stability

User Csalmhof
by
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure monitoring are used to assess left ventricular end-diastolic pressure after mitral valve replacement. This reflects the role of the mitral valve in the left atrium-to-left ventricle blood flow.

Step-by-step explanation:

The monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure together with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) using a pulmonary artery catheter after a mitral valve replacement helps to assess left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). The PCWP serves as an indirect measure of LVEDP because the catheter is wedged in a branch of the pulmonary artery, blocking all forward flow, so the pressure measured reflects the pressure in the left atrium and, by inference, the left ventricle at end-diastole. This is important for patients who have had mitral valve surgery because the mitral valve plays a crucial role in controlling the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

Therefore, the correct answer to the posted question is B) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The other options, such as right ventricular pressure, acid-base balance, and coronary artery stability, are not directly assessed with a PCWP. The action by the nurse to monitor pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure with a pulmonary artery catheter will assess A) right ventricular pressure and B) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Pulmonary artery pressure reflects the pressure in the right ventricle, while pulmonary capillary wedge pressure reflects the pressure in the left ventricle at the end of diastole.

User Hisbvdis
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