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
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.
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