The client has just returned to the floor after balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve and the nurse is planning appropriate assessments. The nurse would assess for all potential complications except.

Choice A rationale Emboli are a major risk following balloon valvuloplasty because the procedure involves the mechanical manipulation of a calcified valve. During the inflation of the balloon, small fragments of calcium or thrombi can become dislodged from the valve leaflets. These fragments enter the systemic circulation and can cause an embolic stroke or peripheral ischemia. Nurses must perform frequent neurological and neurovascular assessments to detect these life threatening complications in the post procedure period. Choice B rationale Mitral valve damage is a potential complication during an aortic valvuloplasty because of the close anatomical proximity of the two structures. The equipment used to access the aortic valve must pass through or near the mitral apparatus. Accidental trauma to the mitral leaflets or chordae tendineae can lead to acute mitral regurgitation. Monitoring for new murmurs or sudden respiratory distress is a critical nursing intervention to ensure the integrity of the surrounding cardiac valves. Choice C rationale Plaque formation is a chronic, progressive process known as atherosclerosis that occurs over years. It is not an acute complication resulting from a balloon valvuloplasty procedure. While the procedure addresses the effects of calcification, it does not cause the immediate creation of new plaque. The nurse focuses on acute physiological changes and procedural injuries rather than long term vascular disease progression when planning immediate post operative assessments for a patient returning from the cardiac lab. Choice D rationale Ventricular dysrhythmias are a high risk complication because the catheters and balloons used in the procedure can irritate the ventricular endocardium. Mechanical stimulation of the myocardium often triggers premature ventricular contractions or more serious rhythms like ventricular tachycardia. Continuous cardiac monitoring is mandatory to identify these electrical instabilities early. Ensuring stable electrolyte levels, specifically potassium and magnesium, is also part of the nursing plan to minimize the risk of post procedural arrhythmias.