The patient is returning from a cardiac catheterization.The puncture site is in the right femoral artery.The patient is having vital signs assessed every 15 minutes.Along with vital signs,the nurse assesses the pedal pulses of the right and left feet.Which of the following would be of major concern?
A)Both pedal pulses were bounding.
B)The femoral artery could be palpated.
C)The right pedal pulse was weaker than the left.
D)The radial artery pulse was 88.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If a peripheral pulse distal to an injured or treated area of an extremity feels weak on palpation,the volume of blood reaching tissues below the affected area may be inadequate,and surgical intervention may be necessary.A full bounding pulse is an indication of increased volume.When the pulse wave reaches a peripheral artery,you can feel it by palpating the artery lightly against underlying bone or muscle.The pulse is the palpable bounding of the blood flow.The usual range for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

The Patient Is Returning from a Cardiac Catheterization