Mrs. Burton has just returned from her dialysis treatment . Her AV graft is in her left arm . You want to take her blood pressure- because you know that dialysis can make her hypotensive . Where do you obtain the blood pressure reading?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct place to obtain Mrs. Burton’s blood pressure reading is from her right arm. It is important to avoid taking a blood pressure reading on the arm with the arteriovenous (AV) graft, which is the left arm in this case.
The reason for this is that an AV graft is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein, often used for dialysis treatments. This graft serves as a site for dialysis access and is typically located in the arm. Taking blood pressure on this arm can put unnecessary pressure on the graft, potentially leading to complications such as damage to the graft or disruption of the dialysis access site. Furthermore, it may also result in inaccurate readings due to the changes in blood flow caused by the AV graft.
Patients undergoing dialysis are at risk of hypotension during and after the treatment, which can be caused by fluid shifts and the removal of excess fluid during the dialysis process. Monitoring blood pressure in a safe manner, such as in the right arm, helps to ensure that the readings are accurate and reliable, allowing healthcare providers to assess whether intervention is necessary.
If for some reason the right arm is also not suitable for taking the blood pressure (due to issues like injury or a medical condition), an alternative site such as the thigh or a doppler device could be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider. However, the left arm should always be avoided to prevent harm to the AV graft.