A patient is recovering from an abdominal aortic bypass graft. To reduce the effects of orthostatic hypotension, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Encourage moving positions slowly.
b. Perform isometric exercises.
c. Decrease the number of ankle pumps.
d. Participate in chest physiotherapy.
A
Moving positions slowly will help with orthostatic hypotension by allowing the body to adapt. Orthostatic hypotension is an increase in heart rate of more than 15% and a drop of 15 mm Hg or more in systolic blood pressure or a decrease of 10 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure when the patient rises from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. Isometric exercises, which are activities that involve muscle tension without muscle shortening, do not have any effect on preventing orthostatic hypotension, but improve activity tolerance. Ankle pumps help to prevent deep vein thrombosis. Participating in chest physiotherapy assists patients with decreasing effects of pulmonary complications.
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