dergoing repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Her complicated previous history and numerous postoperative physiologic problems required careful consideration of several biologic parameters which form the bases of nursing assessments and interventions in an acute surgical setting. In 1953, Ms. R. was found to have hypertension. She was hospitalized several times for this, but her condition worsened, and in 1957 she had several episodes of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema with hemoptysis. These signs of progressive left ventricular failure were further