Question

When examining a child with congenital heart disease, an organ in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen can be palpated at 4 cm below the rib cage. What would most likely explain this assessment finding?A) The liver size increases due to cardiac medications.B) The spleen size increases due to frequent infection.C) The liver size increases in right-sided heart failure.D) The spleen size increases due to increased destruction of red blood cells.

Answer 1

Answer:

C) The liver size increases in right sided heart failure

Explanation:

The right side of the heart receives blood from systemic circulation (i.e. from the whole body) through superior and inferior vena cava. The failure to pump this blood as in right sided heart failure results in pooling up of bloof in right ventricle and atrium and then in the systemic veins resulting inn increased pressure in jugular vein and liver. This pooling up of blood in liver leads to enlargement of liver which becomes palpable below the rib cage in upper right quadrent

A) cardiac medications have no significant effect on liver size

B) spleen if enlarged is palpable in the upper left corner and grows towards the lower right quadrant.

D) same. spleen is palpable on left size. Plus no reason for RBC destruction was mentioned.