A client with a femoropopliteal bypass graft has a blood pressure of 200/110 mm Hg. What should the nurse conclude?

In the scenario provided, the significantly elevated blood pressure of 200/110 mm Hg following a femoropopliteal bypass graft indicates a potential complication involving the graft. A normal blood pressure response would be expected after such a surgical procedure, and an unusually high reading may suggest that the graft is compromised, leading to potential leaking of blood.

When a graft leaks, the vascular system can experience a sudden change in hemodynamics, resulting in increased blood pressure as the body attempts to maintain adequate blood flow despite the loss occurring at the graft site. This response could be a physiological attempt to compensate for decreased effective blood volume reaching the distal circulation.

In contrast, normal graft patency typically supports stable blood pressure levels indicative of adequate perfusion. Clot formation, while a possible complication, often results in symptoms such as pain, pallor, or a diminished pulse, rather than solely elevated blood pressure. Dehydration generally leads to reduced blood pressure, not hypertension. Thus, the elevated reading following surgery primarily aligns with the likelihood of graft leakage, making it the most plausible conclusion in this clinical scenario.