Diagnostic testing reveals that an adult patient has a stenotic mitral valve. How would the nurse explain this diagnosis to the patient?
1. "One of the valves of your heart does not open well enough.".
2. "You have a leaky valve in your heart.".
3. "The valves in your heart were not formed correctly before you were born.".
4. "One of the valves in your heart is stuck in the open position.".
1
Rationale 1: A stenotic valve has a narrowed orifice that does not allow blood to flow normally into the next chamber.
Rationale 2: A regurgitant valve does not close properly; therefore blood backs up into the previous chamber. This can be described as a leaky valve.
Rationale 3: The adult patient is more likely to have acquired valvular disease than congenital valvular disease. In any case, there is not enough information in the question for the nurse to discuss etiology.
Rationale 4: Stenosis is a narrowing of the valve, not a condition in which the valve is "stuck open.".
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