The best etiology to support the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance in this case is:
b. Retained secretions
Ineffective airway clearance refers to the inability to clear secretions or obstructions from the respiratory tract to maintain a clear airway. The presence of rhonchi (abnormal breath sounds indicating the presence of mucus or other airway obstructions) suggests that there may be retained secretions in the airways. This is a common issue in conditions such as bronchitis.
While peripheral edema and congestive heart failure may contribute to respiratory symptoms, they are not directly related to the inability to clear airway secretions. Retained secretions are more directly associated with ineffective airway clearance in this context.
