Scenario : Mr. S is an elderly male who has a longstanding history of hypertension. He suddenly develops throbbing pain in the abdomen. He notified his doctor and was admitted to the hospital for tests. A CAT scan would reveal an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Surgical intervention for AAA was done emergently. Following surgery, Mr.S was transferred to the ICU for a higher level of care. During his stay, his vital signs, neurological, cardiac and respiratory status would all be monitored. Please click on the links for more learning: Hemodynamic Monitoring Info for the layperson
Chest pain assessment Chest pain is a very common complaint . It may occur anywhere and anytime, even at rest. It may be related to stress or actual damage to the heart. A patient having a heart attack , may very readily complain of chest pain. Helpful hints : If the patient in your care is complaining of chest pain, immediate action should be taken to assess the pain. Chest pain may be sharp, severe and stabbing. It may also feel like pressure in the chest or Like a pair of hands squeezing the chest. It is important to do a pain assessment on a scale of 1-10 and document results. It is also of note to ask the patient to describe the character and duration of the pain. Always remember to document all interventions. Follow your Institution's policies, procedures and MD orders for chest pain. Do you know your heart Simple EKG interpretation: The EKG (Electrocardiogram) is a noninvasive, simple diagnostic test. It is a reflection of the electrical condu
Myocardial infarction A heart attack is the layman's term for a (MI) myocardial infarction. It is caused by a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. A blood clot or plaque, may obstruct the flow of blood. This typically occurs in the patient with CAD ( coronary artery disease) . Symptoms include: chest pain which may radiate to the shoulder and jaw, pressure or tightness in the chest, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. Cardiogenic shock The left ventricle receives its blood supply from the LAD ( left anterior descending) artery. If the flow of blood to the left ventricle is obstructed by a clot or plaque, part of the heart muscle may die. This lack of blood flow to the left ventricle causes pump failure. Cardiogenic shock may result from pump fail
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