Transplant

A kidney transplant recipient has had fever, chills, and dysuria over the past 2 days. What is the first action that the nurse should take? A. Assess temperature and initiate workup to rule out infection B. Reassure the patient that this is common after transplantation C. Provide warm covers to the patient and give 1 gram oral acetaminophen D. Notify the nephrologist that the pateint has manifestations of acute rejection.

A A. Assess temperature and initiate workup to rule out infection

The nurse provides discharge instructions to a patient who has an immune deficiency involving the T lymphocytes. Which health screening should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this patient? a. Screening for cancers b. Screening for allergies c. Screening for antibody deficiencies d. Screening for autoimmune disorders

ANS: A Cell-mediated immunity is responsible for the recognition and destruction of cancer cells. Allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders, and antibody deficiencies are mediated primarily by B lymphocytes and humoral immunity

Ten days after receiving a bone marrow transplant, a patient develops a skin rash. What should the nurse suspect is the cause of the rash? a. The donor T cells are attacking the patient's skin cells. b. The patient needs treatment to prevent hyperacute rejection. c. The patient's antibodies are rejecting the donor bone marrow. d. The patient is experiencing a delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

ANS: A The patient's history and symptoms indicate that the patient is experiencing graft-versus-host disease, in which the donated T cells attack the patient's tissues. The history and symptoms are not consistent with rejection or delayed hypersensitivity.

An older adult patient who is having an annual checkup tells the nurse, "I feel fine, and I don't want to pay for all these unnecessary cancer screening tests!" Which information should the nurse plan to teach this patient? a. Consequences of aging on cell-mediated immunity b. Decrease in antibody production associated with aging c. Incidence of cancer-associated infections in older adults d. Impact of poor nutrition on immune function in older adults

ANS: A The primary impact of aging on immune function is on T cells, which are important for immune surveillance and tumor immunity. Antibody function is not affected as much by aging. Poor nutrition can also contribute to decreased immunity, but there is no evidence that it is a contributing factor for this patient. Although some types of cancer are associated with specific infections, this patient does not have an active infection.

A patient is admitted to the hospital with acute rejection of a kidney transplant. Which intervention will the nurse expect for this patient? a. Testing for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match b. Administration of immunosuppressant medications c. Insertion of an arteriovenous graft for hemodialysis d. Placement of the patient on the transplant waiting list

ANS: B Acute rejection is treated with the administration of additional immunosuppressant drugs such as corticosteroids. Because acute rejection is potentially reversible, there is no sign that the patient will need another transplant or hemodialysis. There is no need to repeat HLA testing.

The nurse teaches a patient about drug therapy after a kidney transplant. Which statement by the patient would indicate a need for further instructions? a. "I need to be monitored closely for development of cancer." b. "After a couple of years, I will be able to stop taking the cyclosporine." c. "If I develop acute rejection episode, I will need additional types of drugs." d. "The drugs are combined to inhibit different ways the kidney can be rejected."

ANS: B Cyclosporine, a calcineurin inhibitor, will need to be continued for life. The other patient statements are accurate and indicate that no further teaching is necessary about those topics.

Which information in a patient's history indicates to the nurse that the patient is not an appropriate candidate for kidney transplantation? a. The patient has type 1 diabetes. b. The patient has metastatic lung cancer. c. The patient has a history of chronic hepatitis C infection. d. The patient is infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

ANS: B Disseminated malignancies are a contraindication to transplantation. The conditions of the other patients are not contraindications for kidney transplant.

The nurse is titrating the IV fluid infusion rate immediately after a patient has had kidney transplantation. Which parameter will be most important for the nurse to consider? a. Heart rate b. Urine output c. Creatinine clearance d. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level

ANS: B Fluid volume is replaced based on urine output after transplant because the urine output can be as high as a liter an hour. The other data will be monitored but are not the most important determinants of fluid infusion rate.

Which statement by a patient would alert the nurse to a risk for decreased immune function? a. "I had a chest x-ray 6 months ago." b. "I had my spleen removed after a car accident." c. "I take one baby aspirin every day to prevent stroke." d. "I usually eat eggs or meat for at least two meals a day."

ANS: B Splenectomy increases the risk for septicemia from bacterial infections. The patient's protein intake is good and should improve immune function. Daily aspirin use does not affect immune function. A chest x-ray does not have enough radiation to suppress immune function.

The nurse is assessing a patient 4 hours after a kidney transplant. Which information is most important to communicate to the health care provider? a. The urine output is 900 to 1100 mL/hr. b. The patient's central venous pressure (CVP) is decreased. c. The patient reports level 7 (0- to 10-point scale) incisional pain. d. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels are elevated.

ANS: B The decrease in CVP suggests hypovolemia, which must be rapidly corrected to prevent renal hypoperfusion and acute tubular necrosis. The other information is not unusual in a patient after a transplant.

A patient who had a kidney transplant eight years ago is receiving the immunosuppressants tacrolimus (Prograf), cyclosporine (Sandimmune), and prednisone. Which assessment data will be of most concern to the nurse? a. Skin is thin and fragile. b. Blood pressure is 150/92. c. A nontender axillary lump. d. Blood glucose is 144 mg/dL.

ANS: C A nontender lump suggests a secondary cancer, such as a lymphoma, which could occur as a result of chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The increased glucose, skin change, and hypertension are possible side effects of the prednisone and should be addressed, but they are not as great a concern as the possibility of cancer.

Which assessment finding may indicate that a patient is experiencing adverse effects to a corticosteroid taken for four years after kidney transplantation? a. Postural hypotension b. Recurrent tachycardia c. Knee and hip joint pain d. Increased serum creatinine

ANS: C Aseptic necrosis of the weight-bearing joints can occur when patients take corticosteroids over a prolonged period. Increased creatinine level, orthostatic dizziness, and tachycardia are not associated with corticosteroid use

An older adult patient has a prescription for cyclosporine following a kidney transplant. Which information in the patient's health history has implications for planning patient teaching about the safe use of cyclosporine? a. The patient restricts salt to 2 grams per day. b. The patient eats green leafy vegetables daily. c. The patient drinks grapefruit juice every day. d. The patient drinks 3 to 4 quarts of fluid each day.

ANS: C Grapefruit juice can increase the toxicity of cyclosporine. The patient should be taught to avoid grapefruit juice. Normal fluid and sodium intake or eating green leafy vegetables will not affect cyclosporine levels or renal function.

A 53-yr-old patient with stage D heart failure and type 2 diabetes asks the nurse whether heart transplant is an option. Which response is accurate? a. "Your heart failure has not reached the end stage yet." b. "You could not manage the multiple complications of that surgery." c. "The suitability of a heart transplant for you depends on many factors." d. "Because you have diabetes, you would not be a heart transplant candidate."

ANS: C Indications for a heart transplant include end-stage heart failure (stage D), but other factors such as coping skills, family support, and patient motivation to follow the rigorous posttransplant regimen are also considered. Patients with diabetes who have well-controlled blood glucose levels may be candidates for heart transplant. Although heart transplants can be associated with many complications, there are no data to suggest that the patient could not manage the care.

A nurse has obtained donor tissue typing information about a patient who is waiting for a kidney transplant. Which results should be reported to the transplant surgeon? a. Patient is Rh positive and donor is Rh negative. b. Six antigen matches are present in HLA typing. c. Results of patient-donor crossmatching are positive. d. Panel of reactive antibodies (PRA) percentage is low.

ANS: C Positive crossmatching is an absolute contraindication to kidney transplantation because a hyperacute rejection will occur after the transplant. The other information shows that the tissue match between the patient and potential donor is acceptable.

Which finding is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider about a patient who received a liver transplant 1 week ago? a. Dry palpebral and oral mucosa b. Crackles at bilateral lung bases c. Temperature 100.8° F (38.2° C) d. No bowel movement for 4 days

ANS: C The risk of infection is high in the first few months after liver transplant, and fever is frequently the only sign of infection. The other patient data indicate the need for further assessment or nursing actions and might be communicated to the health care provider, but they do not indicate a need for urgent action.

The charge nurse is assigning semiprivate rooms for new admissions. Which patient could safely be assigned as a roommate for a patient who has acute rejection of an organ transplant? a. A patient who has viral pneumonia b. A patient with second-degree burns c. A patient with an anaphylactic reaction d. A patient with graft-versus-host disease

ANS: C There is no increased exposure to infection from a patient who had an anaphylactic reaction. Treatment for a patient with acute rejection includes administration of additional immunosuppressants and the patient should not be exposed to increased risk for infection as would occur from patients with viral pneumonia, graft-versus-host disease, and burns.

The nurse completes discharge teaching for a patient who has had a lung transplant. Which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective? a. "I will make an appointment to see the doctor every year." b. "I will stop taking the prednisone if I experience a dry cough." c. "I will not worry if I feel a little short of breath with exercise." d. "I will call the health care provider right away if I develop a fever."

ANS: D Low-grade fever may indicate infection or acute rejection, so the patient should notify the health care provider immediately if the temperature is elevated. Patients require frequent follow-up visits with the transplant team. Annual health care provider visits would not be sufficient. Home O2 use is not an expectation after lung transplant. Shortness of breath should be reported. Low-grade fever, fatigue, dyspnea, dry cough, and O2 desaturation are signs of rejection. Immunosuppressive therapy, including prednisone, needs to be continued to prevent rejection.

The nurse should assess the patient undergoing plasmapheresis for which clinical manifestation? a. Shortness of breath b. High blood pressure c. Transfusion reaction d. Extremity numbness

ANS: D Numbness and tingling may occur as the result of the hypocalcemia caused by the citrate used to prevent coagulation. The other clinical manifestations are not associated with plasmapheresis.

A nurse is considering which patient to admit to the same room as a patient who is hospitalized with acute rejection 3 weeks after a liver transplant. Which patient would be the best choice? a. Patient who is receiving chemotherapy for liver cancer b. Patient who is receiving treatment for acute hepatitis C c. Patient who has a wound infection after cholecystectomy d. Patient who requires pain management for chronic pancreatitis

ANS: D The patient with chronic pancreatitis does not present an infection risk to the immunosuppressed patient who had a liver transplant. The other patients either are at risk for infection or currently have an infection, which will place the immunosuppressed patient at risk for infection.

In a person having an acute rejection of a transplanted kidney, which of the following would help the nurse understand the course of events (select all that apply): A. a new transplant could be considered B. acute rejection can be treated with OKT3 C. Repeated episodes of acute rejection usually lead to chronic rejection D. corticosteroids are the most successful drug used to treat acute rejection E. Acute rejection is common after a transplant and can be treated with drug therapy

B, C, E B. acute rejection can be treated with OKT3 C. Repeated episodes of acute rejection usually lead to chronic rejection E. Acute rejection is common after a transplant and can be treated with drug therapy

Patients are at risk for which complications in the first year after heart transplantation (Select all that apply) A. Cancer B. Infection C. Rejection D. Vasculopathy E. Sudden Cardiac Death

B, C, E B. Infection C. Rejection E. Sudden Cardiac Death

Which statements describe the management of a patient following lung transplantation (Select all that apply) A. High doses of O2 are administered around the clock B. Using a home spirometer will help to monitor lung function C. Immunosuppressant therapy usually involves a 3-drug regimen D. Most patients have an acute rejection episode within the first 2 days E. A lung biopsy is done using a transtracheal method if rejection is suspected

B, C, E B. Using a home spirometer will help to monitor lung function C. Immunosuppressant therapy usually involves a 3-drug regimen E. A lung biopsy is done using a transtracheal method if rejection is suspected

What accurately describes rejection after transplantation? A. Hyperacute rejection can be treated with OKT3. B. Acute rejection can be treated with sirolimus or tacrolimus. C. Chronic rejection can be treated with tacrolimus or cyclosporine. D. Hyperacute reaction can be avoided if crossmatching is done before transplantation.

D. Hyperacute reaction can be avoided if crossmatching is done before transplantation.