ABGs, CVADs, O2, ACS Flashcards
Your patient is receiving chemo treatment via PICC line; his 02 sat reads 88%, his heart rate is increasing and he’s grabbing his chest. What could be happening? Interventions?
Embolism.
Administer O2, Clamp Catheter, Notify Physician
If it’s an air embolism, lay your patient on their left side with head down.
You’re assessing your patient’s CVAD and they tell you they aren’t feeling well. You assess their vitals; T-37.9, BP 91/64, HR 113, RESP 19. What do you do?
Systemic Infection
Blood cultures/notify physician.
Antibiotics
Antipyretics
Catheter removal if ordered
What might you find if the PICC line migrated from it’s original site?
Slow infusion
Edema in chest or neck
Pt. hears a gurglin sound in ear
Dysrhythmias
Why would you use a 10 mL syringe or higher when flushing a port? Why would you use heparin?
To avoid excess pressure on the catheter; to avoid clotting or thrombus formation
What are the three artery’s used for arterial catheter insertion?
Radial, Femoral, Brachial
Explain the Allen’s Test
We are assessing for circulation.
Ask the patient to hold a fist for 30s
When they release the hand should be blanched.
By occluding the ulnar and radial artery, we can determine if there is sufficient circulation.
What are the four components to bedside hemodynamic monitoring?
Invasive catheter- high pressure tubing
Transducer- Gives us something readable/measureable
Flush System
Bedside Monitor- Readouts
Where would you “level the transducer?”
Phlebostatic Axis- 4th/5th intercostal space to the sternum, to the midaxillary line.
You want to align the transducer with the left atrium so that corrections can be made when the hydrostatic pressure changes in blood vessels, above and below the heart.
What parameter is used to measure aterial perfusion?
MAP- Mean Arterial Pressure
**diastole times 2 plus systole is divided by 3
> 60 mm Hg is necessary to perfuse CAs
70-90 mm Hg is ideal to decrease LV workload
What are the 5 p’s and what are they used to assess? How often do you assess?
Pain, pulse, pallour, parethesia, paralyisis
Neurovascular status Q4h
How much pressure is around the pressure bag of the Pulmonary Arterial Catheter?
300 mm Hg
What are the insertion sites for Pulmonary Artery Catheter?
Internal Jugular Vein
Subclavian Vein
Antecuboidal Vein
Femoral Vein
What would you assess for after a PAC insertion?
Suture in place
Verify Position
Apply Plastic Sleeve
Why are PACs used? Are they beneficial?
They’re used to measure perfusion to adequately treat certain organ dysfunctions.
This isn’t a preferred method as it interferes with certain kinds of ventilators and requires the patient to limit their movement. There are other methods used and they are easier for patients to use.
What is PAOP? Why is it important?
Pulmonary Artery Occulsion Pressure, aka Wedge Pressure.
It is the pressure measured by wedging a pulmonary catheter with an inflated balloon into a small pulmonary arterial branch. Because of the large compliance of the pulmonary circulation, it provides an indirect measure of the left atrial pressure.
What are some complications from PACs?
Ventricular Dysrhythmias Endocarditis Valvular Damage Cardiac Rupture; Taponade PA thrombosis, embolism, hemorrhage Lung infarction
PEEP?
Positive End-Expiratory Pressure- Abbreviation for positive end-expiratory pressure. A method of ventilation in which airway pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure at the end of exhalation by means of a mechanical impedance, usually a valve, within the circuit.
What is a high pH? What can happen?
> 7.45 Alkalosis
Interferes with tissue oxygenation
Interferes with neuro fxn
Interferes with muscular fxn
What is a low pH? What can happen?
> 7.35 Acidosis
Decreased foce of cardiac contractions
Decrease in vascular response to catecholamines
Diminished response to effects of medications
Name the two buffer responses. Briefly explain.
Respiratory Buffer System:
Excess CO2 binds with H2O = carbonic acid
Levels of Carbonic Acid determine whether the lungs increase or decrease in depth and rate
Happens within 1-3 minutes
Renal Buffer System: Kidneys exrete or retaine bicarb Blood pH decreases- kidneys retain HCO3 As pH rises- kideneys exrete HCO3 through urine Takes hours to days to activate
A 6 ft, thin, 23 year old woman comes into the ER, she’s not sure where she is or her name. She’s SOB, taking shallow breaths. You’re assessing vitals; HR is 145, RESP 8, T 35.4, BP 110/65. What is happening to her? What could her underlying condition be? What would her blood pH be?
Respiratory Acidosis- Increase in CO2
pH >7.35
Possible pneumothorax
You’re calmly trying to finish your microbiology exam, when the person beside you is sweating, fidgeting, squinting and spasming. It’s freaking you out but you quickly realize what might be happening. You hand them a paper bag because….
Respiratory Alkalosis (>7.45) Giving them a paper bag will help them retain CO2 and decrease the amount of Bicarb in the blood.
A boy playing soccer comes up to you and is taking big deep breaths, normal right? Except his breath smells fruity, he’s complaining of an upset stomach, he just drank all the gatorade and is looking pretty pale. All of a sudden his LOC diminishes, now what?
Metabolic Acidosis (decreased bicarb, decreased pH)
The boy is ketoacidotic. Get him to the hospital stat.
He needs IV fluids NS to reduce sugar levels, (lytes: Na, K, Cl) and a steady flow of insulin.
Your patient is hypertensive and the team has had a hard time reducing their BP, the doctor keeps increasing the amount of diuretic they are to receive. Your patient hates bananas. What is your patient at risk for?
Metabolic Acidosis (Increased bicarb, increased pH)
Diuretics can cause K wasting. Think potassium sparing drugs: Aldactone/Spironolactone