The physician orders pentoxifylline (Trental) for the patient with peripheral vascular disease. The nurse has completed medication education and determines that learning has occurred when the patient makes which statement(s)?

Question

1. "It makes my red blood cells (RBCs) squishy so they can go into the little blood vessels."
2. "It decreases my platelets so my blood is less likely to clot."
3. "It decreases the "stickiness" of my blood."
4. "It changes how my liver makes clotting factors."
5. "It destroys clotting factors."

Answer 1

1,2,3
Rationale 1: Pentoxifylline (Trental) acts on red blood cells (RBCs) to reduce their viscosity and increase their flexibility to allow them to enter partially occluded vessels.
Rationale 2: Pentoxifylline (Trental) also has antiplatelet action.
Rationale 3: Pentoxifylline (Trental) decreases the viscosity or "stickiness" of blood.
Rationale 4: Pentoxifylline (Trental) does not interfere with the manufacture of clotting factors in the liver.
Rationale 5: Pentoxifylline (Trental) does not destroy clotting factors.
Global Rationale: Pentoxifylline (Trental) acts on red blood cells (RBCs) to reduce their viscosity and increase their flexibility to allow them to enter partially occluded vessels. Pentoxifylline (Trental) also has antiplatelet action. Pentoxifylline (Trental) decreases the viscosity or "stickiness" of blood. Pentoxifylline (Trental) does not destroy clotting factors. Pentoxifylline (Trental) does not interfere with the manufacture of clotting factors in the liver.