A 50-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking was ...

[ereecah]

A 50-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking was diagnosed with bronchogenic cancer. He developed edema and venous distention in the upper extremities and face. Which of the fol-lowing diagnosis will the nurse observe on the chart?
 
  a. Thromboembolism
  b. Deep vein thrombosis
  c. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS)
  d. Chronic venous insufficiency

Question 2

A nurse observes a cardiologist multiplying the heart rate by stroke volume. What is the cardiolo-gist measuring?
 
  a. Vascular resistance
  b. Preload
  c. Cardiac output
  d. Ejection fraction

[yeungji]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
SVCS is a progressive occlusion of the superior vena cava that leads to venous distention in the upper extremities and head. Thromboembolism would not lead to the generalized symptoms de-scribed in the patient. Deep vein thrombosis would not lead to upper extremity symptoms. Chronic venous insufficiency would primarily affect one extremity.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Cardiac output is found by the heart rate times stroke volume. Vascular resistance is not a factor in the calculation of cardiac output; it does play a role in blood pressure. Preload affects cardiac output but is not the result of heart rate times stroke volume. Ejection fraction is the amount ejected per beat.