A nurse is caring for an infant who has coarctation of the aorta. Which of the following should the nurse identify as an expected finding?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Frequent nosebleeds: While hypertension can occur in coarctation of the aorta, frequent nosebleeds are not a typical finding associated with this condition. B. Increased intracranial pressure: This is not a direct finding of coarctation of the aorta. Increased intracranial pressure may be related to other conditions, but it is not specifically expected in this context. C. Upper extremity hypotension: In coarctation of the aorta, the upper extremities usually experience higher blood pressure due to the narrowing of the aorta distal to the branches supplying the arms. Therefore, hypotension in the upper extremities is not expected. D. Weak femoral pulses: This is an expected finding in coarctation of the aorta, as the narrowing of the aorta can lead to decreased blood flow to the lower body, resulting in weak or diminished femoral pulses compared to the upper extremities.