Asked by Eliesha Wolverton on Jun 08, 2024
Verified
The nurse is helping another nurse take a blood pressure reading on a patient's thigh. Which action is correct regarding thigh pressure?
A) Either the popliteal or femoral vessels should be auscultated to obtain a thigh pressure.
B) The best position to measure thigh pressure is the supine position with the knee slightly bent.
C) If the blood pressure in the arm is high in an adolescent, then it should be compared with the thigh pressure.
D) The thigh pressure is lower than the pressure in the arm, which is attributable to the distance away from the heart and the size of the popliteal vessels.
Popliteal
Relating to the area behind the knee joint, where blood vessels and nerves pass.
Femoral Vessels
The major blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the thigh that supply blood to and from the lower limbs.
- Skill in the proper selection and employment of instruments for the measurement of vital signs, highlighting the necessity of cuff size and thermometer variety.
Verified Answer
TP
Travis PowellJun 10, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
When blood pressure measured at the arm is excessively high, particularly in adolescents and young adults, it is compared with thigh pressure to check for coarctation of the aorta. The popliteal artery is auscultated for the reading. Generally, thigh pressure is higher than that of the arm; however, if coarctation of the artery is present, then arm pressures are higher than thigh pressures. The popliteal, not the femoral, artery should be auscultated to obtain a thigh pressure as the femoral artery is proximal to the placement of the blood pressure cuff. The preferred position for the patient is in the prone position, not supine.
Learning Objectives
- Skill in the proper selection and employment of instruments for the measurement of vital signs, highlighting the necessity of cuff size and thermometer variety.
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