The nurse is assessing a child with coarctation of the aorta. Which of the following would the nurse expect to find?
Explanation
• If the coarctation is minimal, diminished femoral pulses may be the only symptom. Classic findings also include hypertension in the upper extremities and hypotension in the lower extremities.
• The aorta narrows, usually distal to the subclavian artery. This causes a large difference in systolic blood pressure between the upper and lower extremities.
• Cyanosis may occur in neonates with severe coarctation combined with a patent ductus arteriosus.
• Poor feeding pattern and exercise intolerance may occur in children, but these are not indicative of aortic coarctation.