Exam #3 Cardiac Flashcards
When we are in the uterus, we do not need our lungs. So they are collapsed down, but they still make surfactant.
since we do not use lungs as a fetus, we get oxygenated blood via the placenta.
From the placenta… oxygenated blood flows through the umbilical vein to the fetus.
Once it enters the fetus….it goes to the liver where we have something that is called the DUCTUS VENOSUS.
What does the ductus venosus do?
It shunts the oxygenated blood straight into the inferior vena cava.
Once the blood has been shunted from the ductus venosus into the inferior vena cava…..Where does it go next?
Into the right atrium.
In a fetus, the problem is that we do not need it to go to the lungs….because of the pressure…we have a trap door that opens called the Foramen ovale.
What does the foramen ovale do?
It is literally a hole between the atriums with a little flap. So blood goes from the right atrium into the left atrium and bypasses the lungs.
And because the pressure is stronger coming from the mother…it keeps it open.
After the blood enters the right atrium and travels through the foramen ovale into the left atrium….where does it go next.
It goes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle and out through the aorta.
Most of it goes from the aorta to the brain.
This is where most of it is shunted
Even though fetal circulation bi-passes the lungs….there is still a little bit of leakage through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle…into the lungs.
Even though the fetus does not use the lungs….they still need a little bit of blood in order to make surfactant.
Most of the blood needed is given to the brain due to its rapid growth.
This is done though a shunt called the ductus arteriosis.
What does the ductus arteriosus do?
The ductus arteriosus takes most of mommas blood that did
NOT
Go through the foramen ovale and shunts it over to the pulmonary vein…to the left atrium….and left ventricle and out to the brain.
When the fetus is done getting the oxygenated blood from momma, how is the blood returned to the fetus to be reoxygenated?
Through the umbilical arteries.
Name the 2 shunting systems that deliver oxygenated blood to the fetus….
Ductus Venosus
Ductus Arteriosus
Which one shunts blood into the pulmonary veins?
Ductus Venosus
Ductus Arteriosus
Ductus Arteriosus
Which one shunts blood into the inferior vena cava?
Ductus Venosus
Ductus Arteriosus
Ductus Venosus
Which one carries oxygenated blood to the fetus?
Umbilical artery
Umbilical vein
Umbilical vein
Which one carries unoxygenated blood away from the the fetus?
Umbilical artery
Umbilical vein
Umbilical artery
Name the 5 fetal circulation structures.
Umbilical vein, umbilical arteries Foramen ovale Ductus arteriosus Ductus venosus
Fetal Circulation through the heart….
Placenta umbilical vein liver, ductus venosus inferior vena cava right atrium foramen ovale left atrium mitral valve left ventricle aorta brain back through umbilical artery return to the placenta
leak through tricuspid right ventricle ductus arterosus pulmonary vein left atrium mitral valve left ventricle aorta brain back through umbilical artery return to the placenta
When you are born you come out of the vagina…..you take your first breath of life….it is about 40-60 sonometers of pressure that expands the lungs.
When you expand the lungs for the first time….you have changed the whole system.
Meanwhile, when the cord is cut, the pressure of the whole system changes.
The body now has a higher pressure in the lungs, and the placenta is gone.
So the foramen ovale closes.
Why does the foramen ovale close shortly after birth?
because we have more pressure from the lungs expanding for the first time.
Now the blood travels through the heart like it is supposed to.
Change Happens in about 1 min.
A fetus is used to getting ___% oxygen from the mother
18
Once the cord is cut and the baby is breathing on their own…What percent of oxygen are they now getting?
21%
So when we look at congenital heart problems, we are looking at something that has gone wrong with the setup of ____ ______.
Fetal Circulation
Most babies will do just fine with a congenital heart condition as long as the fetus is in the uterus getting all of their oxygen from the placenta.
True or false
True
When you put them in their own world, that is when any defects in their heart start showing up.
Congenital defects are classified by what?
Increased blood flow to the lungs and decreased blood flow to the lungs.
After the baby is born, and the cord is cut….
What stimulates the ductus arteriosus to close?
The ductus arteriosus will close slowly ( it constricts) in reaction to the fact that the baby is breathing 21% oxygen.
Also closes in response to a decrease in prostaglandins.
So if we have a good healthy baby (that has not been recusitated), the ductus arteriosus closes and we may hear a _____ in the first 1 - 2 hours of life.
Murmur
Because it closes slowly
If we have a sick baby, especially a preterm baby…..they will not be getting enough oxygen…This means that their _____ _____ will stay open/patent.
ductus arteriosus
It stays open because they baby is not getting enough oxygen and this is what stimulates it to close (along with dropping prostaglandin levels)
If a newborn baby that was fine originally gets sick later on 4-5 hours later….will their ductus arteriosus open again?
yes
because the body thinks that it is without oxygen and back in the uterus
What are the Pediatric Indicators of Cardiac Dysfunction. (6 of them)
Poor feeding
Tachypnea, tachycardia
Failure to thrive, poor weight gain
Activity intolerance
Developmental delays esp. gross motor
Positive family history of cardiac disease
What are we looking for on a cardiac assessment of a child?
History – prenatal and postnatal
Feeding, respiratory
infections, activity
Color Auscultation Pulses Blood pressure – 4 extremity Capillary refill Abdomen
What are the 3 signs that you have an unhealthy baby?
poor feeding
tachycardia
tachypnea
When you see these signs in a baby you have to start going down the list of problems.
Do they have a GI bug?
Do they have any S/s of illness at all?
If a baby has tachycardia but no other signs of illness….what do you do next?
Check temp…
Check o2….make sure oxygenating.
The big signs to look for that something may be wrong…that the baby may have a problem is
poor feeding and poor growth..
You will also see a big delay in gross motor…
Because the baby will use up all of their calories trying to keep their heart beating and they are unable to grow.
and because they are usually short of breath, and working real hard for oxygen anyway because they have poor cardiac output….you will find that they do not have enough effort to be able to develop.
So in cardiac babies….you will see a delay mostly in gross motor….
So they will have good interaction….they will be smiling…they will be normal for personal social….they will be normal for language as long as there are no other defects.
They will also be normal for fine motor because it does not require a whole lot of effort.
What is considered gross motor in a baby…
learning to sit up
learning to pull up
learning to crawl and walk
all of this requires calories and oxygen, along with the ability to not get tired.
This is why gross motor is delayed in cardiac babies
You must always assess the history of a cardiac baby. What are some important things to consider when asking about the history.
Prenatal and Postnatal history
Risk factors for CHD:
2 big ones: Down’s Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. 50% have CHD
Maternal Diabetes
Rubella
When assessing the heart….what do you do first?
YOU LOOK AT THE BABY FIRST
Is he tired
Is he squatting if older child
What is his color
Then listen to the heart
When listening to the heart what are some things to consider?
With a premie, you can set the stethoscope anywhere
For older or bigger babies…. Listen to Aortic, Pulmonic, Tricuspid, and Mitral..
Mitral is where apical pulse is heard.
If a patient has a patent ductus…..you have to listen on the back. This is where it is heard the most.
After you auscultate you palpate pulses.
If on auscultation of the heart you hear a murmur….what are you going to do next?
You immediately go into an assessment
assess the pulses, BP on 4 extremities, chest x ray capillary refill palpate abdomen (enlarged liver/spleen)
(Feel carotid pulses, femoral, radial, and pedal pulses)
The reason is because of coarctation of the aorta that decreases the amount of blood going to the lower part of the body. So BP is greater in the upper part of the body. This is a BIG CLUE FOR COARCTATION OF THE AORTA
Suppose you are assessing pulses on a kid and they have great radial pulses but you cannot feel the femoral or pedal pulses…..What are you going to do next?
get 4 extremity BP
Capillary refill to assess cardiac output
palpate abdomen
Just to let you know about murmurs……
Just because a child has a murmur it does
NOT
Mean they have a congenital heart defect/disease.
If a child has anemia, we will hear a flow murmur until the anemia is corrected
Sometimes a child with a fever can have a murmur and it will go away if the fever goes away. This is called an innocent murmur.
Heart can make flow noises if it is stressed out.
If you hear a murmur…..you put down exactly what you hear….
Do not chart a murmur just because the person in front of you charted a murmur…
Maybe they didn’t hear one…
or maybe it is gone.
After a murmur was heard…We have done:
x-ray / bloodwork
4- extremity BP
Cap refill
Pulses ect…
What do we do now?
Get Echo to try and locate the defect.
Then send to cardiac cath for 2 reasons.
#1 - Diagnosis #2 - Nonsurgical repairs of smaller defects.
Cardiac Catherization potential complications
arrhythmias, ***hemorrhage, vascular damage, vasospasm, thrombus, embolus, infection, catheter perforation
What interventions do you do BEFORE a cardiac cath?
Mark distal pulses before procedure (femoral, pedal)
get baseline vitals
What interventions do you do AFTER a cardiac cath?
Insertion site dressing checked q 15 min. first 2 hr.
Monitor HR and vitals
Monitoring for bleeding
If you have bleeding from the site…What do you do?
Place your finger 1 inch ABOVE the insertion site and press down firmly to stop the bleeding.
Send someone else to call the doctor Stat.
What is the discharge teaching for a cardiac cath patient?
Teach them that the dressing has to stay on for 2 days and has to be changed 1 time a day,
the child may NOT do PE or any strenuous sports or activities
Child may return to school 1 day after cath
teach them Place your finger 1 inch ABOVE the insertion site and press down firmly to stop the bleeding.
Risk Factors for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
Chromosomal-genetic:
Down’s Syndrome, DiGeorge Syndrome 50% have CHD
Maternal drug use:
Fetal alcohol syndrome: 50% have CHD
Maternal illness:
Rubella in first 7 weeks of pregnancy
Cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis
IDMs = 10% risk of CHD
True or False
Increased pulmonary blood flow defects are the ones where the child does NOT turn blue???
True
these are Left to Right Shunting Lesions
Abnormal connection between two sides of heart….Either the septum or the great vessels
Increased blood volume on right side of heart
Increased pulmonary blood flow
Decreased systemic blood flow
What is the usual cause of a LEFT TO RIGHT shunt?
hole in the atrium…..foramen ovale is left open.
hole in the ventricles
We do not have to worry about this baby getting enough oxygen, but we do have to worry about decreased systemic perfusion….
What are the most common LEFT TO RIGHT shunts?
Atrial septal defect (ASD) –
Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Atrial septal defect (ASD) –
Now you can have an ASD and it closes on its own without problems. These are the most common ones.
2 times more common in females
Can be asymptomatic until dyspnea and fatigue on exertion
The ones that stay open are the ones that cause problems as an adolescent or adult.
The reason that they do is because of the extra blood pushing on the pulmonary arteries….over time causes pulmonary vascular disease.
if symptomatic….can cath them and scratch it to make bleed and close…or patch it..
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) –
Most common congenital lesion
Majority close spontaneously
Cant miss this one…whole systolic murmur.
usually closed by the time the child starts school but normally dont have to do this.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Patent Ductus Arteriosus…(shunts blood away from the lungs)
Most common in premature infants
Closes in response to oxygen and decreasing prostaglandins.
If open, We try to give them oxygen to close it.
If that does not work we give them indomethacin….
if that doesnt work we cath them
Indomethacin (Indocin)
Action: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis
Indication: Alternative to surgery for closing the PDA.
Adverse effects: Decreased renal blood flow, NEC
Nursing considerations: Monitor heart murmur, blood pressure, urine output, serum sodium, glucose, platelet count, electrolytes.
Indocin may mask signs of infection
Indomethacin (Indocin) dosing
It is given in 3 doses 1 day apart.
causes vasoconstriction which can kill the kidneys if they do not get blood flow
most important to monitor urine output
remember that it can mask an infection
Name the Decreased Pulmonary Blood Flow Defects
**Tetralogy of Fallot
Tricuspid atresia
Transposition of the Great Vessels
Right to Left Shunting
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most classic decreased pulmonary blood flow defect..
What are the 4 characteristics?
1 they have VSD
other things to know: Most frequent cyanotic lesion Boot shaped heart May need PGE to keep PDA open Clubbing Cyanotic spells – Tet spells Squatting during tet spells
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) more shit to know
infants need to push knees to chest in a tet spell
give prostaglandins to keep ductus open
Side effect is respiratory depression
Congestive Heart Failure in Children
Pulmonary congestion: Left-sided heart failure
Tachypnea, dyspnea, respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, cyanosis, crackles
Congestive Heart Failure in Children
Systemic venous congestion: Right-sided heart failure
Peripheral and periorbital edema, weight gain, ascites, hepatomegaly, neck vein distention
- *Big liver
- *Strong Pulses
- *Distended neck veins
- *Ascites
- *Preorbital edema
We want to look for the earliest sign of CHF…What is it?
Tachycardia while sleeping.
May have gallop rhythm
, fatigue, weakness, restlessness, pale, cool extremities, decreased blood pressure, decreased urinary output
Earliest sign of heart failure is tachycardia which is defined in infants as a sleeping heart rate
> 160 bpm
true
All infant’s energy is used to maintain heart rate and breathing
What 3 things will a heart baby have if they are too busy using energy for this
Poor wt gain
Tire easily during feeds
Developmental delay
What are the nursing diagnoses for CHF?
Cardiac output , Decreased R/T
Impaired gas exchange R/T
Fluid volume, excess R/T
Nutrition, Imbalanced: Less than Body Requirements R/T
Nursing Interventions – Cardiac Output
1 med is digoxin
Administer digoxin as prescribed
**Monitor for digoxin toxicity
Monitor serum potassium levels
**Monitor pulse, Apical before giving
Maintain neutral thermal environment
Plan frequent rest periods
Cluster care/activities to allow for uninterrupted sleep
Biggest problem with digoxin is narrow therapeutic window
Nursing Interventions – Oxygenation
***Monitor respiratory rate and lung sounds
Monitor oxygen saturation
Provide oxygen and humidification if prescribed
**Observe for diaphoresis, a sign of increased respiratory effort
**Position in semi-Fowler to relieve orthopnea
Nursing Interventions – Fluid vol.
Strict I&O’s
Daily weight, on same scale
Measure abdominal girth daily
Observe for peripheral edema
Administer diuretics as ordered
Monitor electrolytes
Nursing Interventions – Nutrition
Maintain nutritional status with small, frequent, high caloric feeds
20 cal increased to 24 cal/oz (breast milk fortifier, change formula)
Limit feedings to 20 – 30 min
Infant may require tube feeding to conserve energy.
Provide pacifier for sucking needs if tube feeding
#1 - to keep them from getting lazy #2- It stimulates gastric secretions
Medications used to treat CHF in children
1 Oral positive inotropic agents – Digoxin – improve contractility
Enhance myocardial function
other meds
Beta blockers
Diuretics
Digoxin (Lanoxin) is the #1 treatment for CHF… It slows the heart so that it has time to fill, and increases contractility
Action: Cardiac glycoside that increases the influx of calcium from extracellular to intracellular myocardium.
Increases the force of myocardial muscle contraction
Depresses firing of SA node and conduction through AV node
Indication: Treatment of CHF
Adverse effects: Bradycardia, AV block, SA block, Ventricular arrhythmias
Do not give digoxin to an older kid with a heart rate below?
70
Do not give digoxin to an infant/young child with a pulse less than?
90
the other thing is that you have to monitor for toxicity. If the baby vomits, you cannot give another dose until you have a digitalis level.
also will have diarrhea and bradycardia
Digoxin – Nursing considerations
Evaluate HR ( count for full minute) -- If a 1-minute apical pulse is ----less than 90 beats/min for an infant or young child, the digoxin is withheld.
—-100 to 120 beats/min is acceptable pulse to give Digoxin in infant or young child
Do not give to older child is pulse below 70 bpm
Signs of Digitalis toxicity
Dyspnea Confusion/Hallucinations Dizziness Headache Agitation Disturbances in color vision – tendency to yellow-green coloring Blurred vision/Halos ****Nausea & Vomiting Diarrhea Bradycardia PVC’s
Family Digoxin Teaching
Administer regularly – never skip or make up for missed doses
Give 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
DO NOT mix with formula or food
Take child’s pulse prior to administration
Keep safe in locked cabinet
Know signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity
(ACE) inhibitors –Captopril (Capoten)— Nursing considerations:
Obtain BP immediately before each dose, and monitor after dose.
If rapid fall in BP, place pt. supine with legs elevated
Give 1 hour before meals
Monitor for proteinuria
Assess for anorexia– can cause decrease taste perception
Pt./Family education – skipping doses can cause severe rebound hypertension
Should not be used in adolescents who are at risk for pregnancy. Teratogenic.
Furosemide (Lasix)
Action: Enhances excretion of sodium, chloride, and potassium by direct action at the ascending limb of the loop of Henle.
Indication: Diuresis
Adverse effects: nausea, GI upset, diarrhea, constipation, electrolyte disturbances. Ototoxicity esp. in renal patients.
Furosemide (Lasix)– Nursing considerations:
Obtain baseline electrolytes.
Monitor electrolytes while on Lasix.
Monitor output.
-Assess for hypokalemia, hyponatremia
- Family teaching – report ringing in ears
- Eat foods high in K+
- Avoid over-exposure to sunlight and tanning beds
FOODS HIGH IN POTASSIUM
Apricots (dried or fresh) Avocado Bananas Mango Cantaloupe Oranges Orange juice has a higher potassium than a fresh orange Prunes Raisins
Artichoke All Greens except Kale Dried Beans – all kinds have varied mg of K but all are in the high range Butternut, Acorn Squash Spinach Tomatoes Potatoes
Hypokalemia
Muscle weakness Muscle cramping Hyporeflexia Hypotension Cardiac arrhythmias, gallop rhythm Tachycardia or bradycardia Ileus/Abdominal distension Irritability and fatigue
Hyperkalemia
Muscle weakness Flaccid paralysis Hyperreflexia Bradycardia Ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest Twitching Oliguria Apnea
Spironolactone (Aldactone) – Nursing considerations
Administer with food.
Monitor serum potassium, sodium, and renal function.
***May cause false elevations in digitalis levels.
Teach children to avoid high potassium diets, salt substitutes, and natural licorice.
Beta-Adrenergic blockers
Can cause hypoglycemia in children. May mask symptoms of hypoglycemia. Sleep disturbances, drowsiness, fatigue, bradycardia, hypotension
Sinus Tachycardia
Nursing Considerations
Fever Stress Pain Agitation Hypovolemia (Shock) Congestive Heart Failure
Medical Management
Identify and treat underlying cause
Infants < 220 bpm
Children < 180 bpm
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Infants > 220 bpm
Children > 180 bpm
Nursing Considerations for Stable SVT
Vagal Maneuvers Ice to face (INFANTS) Have patient bear down Have patient blow through a straw (OLDER KID) Suction the nasopharynx
Administer Adenosine
Nursing Considerations for Unstable SVT
No LOC, no pulses
Synchronized cardioversion
Common causes of bradycardia in a neonate
Suctioning
Reflux
Apnea of Prematurity
Other causes:
Most often caused by hypoxemia
Hypothermia Head injury Heart block Heart transplant Toxins/poisons/drugs Increased vagal tone Central Line in Right Atrium
Cardiogenic Shock
Congenital Heart Disease/
Heart Surgery
5 – 10 mL/kg NS/LR bolus and repeat as necessary after listening to lungs
Vasoactive infusion
Endocarditis
Bacterial endocarditis (BE), infective endocarditis (IE), or subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE)
Streptococcal
Staphylococcal
Fungal infections
Prophylaxis: 1 hour before procedures (IV) or may use PO in some cases
Complications of Infective Endocarditis
Ischemic Stroke
Cerebral hemorrhage
Meningitis
Brain abscess
Osler nodes are a clinical manifestation of endocarditis
Prevention of IE
Prophylactic antibiotics ONLY for highest-risk CHD patients
Recent changes in prophylaxis guidelines
Prophylaxis before dental work, invasive respiratory treatment, or procedures on soft tissue infections
No prophylaxis for GI/GU procedures
Administer prophylaxis 1 hour before procedure
Meticulous dental hygiene
Rheumatic Fever (RF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)
RF
Inflammatory disease occurs after group A β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis
Infrequently seen in United States; big problem in Third World
Self-limiting
Affects joints, skin, brain, serous surfaces, and heart
RHD
Most common complication of RF
Damage to valves as result of RF
Clinical Manifestations of RF
Carditis – Chest pain, shortness of breath
Fever
Tachycardia, even during sleep
Polyarthritis – migratory large-joint pain
Erythema marginatum – rash starts at trunk
Subcutaneous nodules over bony prominences
Chorea – irregular involuntary movements
Rheumatic Fever (RF)
Lab Findings:
Elevated Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Elevated ASLO (antistreptolysin O) titer – rise in titers begins about 7 days post onset of infection
Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease
Treatment of choice:
Penicillin for 10 days
Erythromycin if allergic to PCN
Prophylactic treatment against recurrent Rheumatic Fever – Penicillin
Kawasaki Disease
Another name: Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome
An acute systemic vasculitis of unknown cause
Most common adverse result is coronary artery aneurysm
75% of cases in children <5 years old
Kawasaki Disease 3 Phases
Acute: abrupt onset of high fever, lasting at least 5 days, unresponsive to antipyretics and antibiotics
Subacute: Resolution of fever through end of all KD clinical signs
Convalescent: clinical signs resolved, but laboratory values not returned to normal; completed with normal values (6-8
Kawasaki Acute Phase
Clinical manifestations: Cervical lymphadenopathy Red, cracked lips Strawberry tongue Erythematous palms Reddened, dry eyes Hands and feet edematous Palms and soles erythematous
Kawasaki Acute Phase
Inflammatory markers on labs are elevated:
C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentaion rate
Very irritable and inconsolable
Arthritis in small joints
Subacute Phase
Begins with the resolution of fever
Risk of coronary thrombosis
Peeling of hands and feet
Arthritis in large wt. bearing joints
Irritability persisting
Convalescent Phase
Clinical signs resolved
May still have elevated sed rate and CRP
May still have arthritis
Treatment of KD
High Dose IVIG
2g/kg over 8 – 12 hours
High Dose Aspirin
80 – 100 mg/kg/day q 6 hours
Then 3-5 mg/kg/day—antiplatelet after fever
IVIG (Intravenous Immune Globulin)
Informed and Written Consent
Contraindications:
IVIG is contraindicated in recipients: known to have had a previous history of a severe systemic or
anaphylactic response to IVIG
NOTE: IVIG interferes with the efficiency of live vaccines.
Family Education for KD
Irritability may persist for 2 months or more
Take temperature daily after discharge
Continue passive range of motion during bath to ease arthritis pain
Avoid live vaccines for 11 months post administration of IVIG
Avoid children with viral illnesses (Reye’s syndrome)
Know signs of aspirin toxicity
Aspirin toxicity signs
Ringing in ears Headache Dizziness Confusion Easy bruising (avoid contact sports)
Severe toxicity can lead to hyperventilation leading to respiratory alkalosis
(Sensorineural hearing loss is associated with KD, but is rare)
Systemic Hypertension
Primary: no known cause Secondary: identifiable cause Pediatrics: hypertension generally secondary to structural abnormality or underlying pathologic condition: Renal disease (most common) Cardiovascular disease Endocrine or neurologic disorders
Blood Pressure Screenings for Children
Blood pressure screenings should begin at 3 years of age
Cuff size
Choose a cuff with a bladder width approximately 40% of the arm circumference
Too small and the reading is falsely high
Too large and the reading is falsely low
BP readings using a Dinamap (oscillometry) are about 10 mm Hg higher than measurements using auscultation
Hyperlipidemia
Children more than 2 years of age should be screened if they have any of the following risk factors
Obesity – A BMI in the 95th percentile or higher is considered obese.
Hypertension
A parent or grandparent with a cholesterol level of 240 mg/dl or higher
Early cardiovascular disease in a first- or second-degree relative is a risk factor.
Hyperlipidemia
Identify kids at risk and treat early
Full Lipid profile should be drawn after a 12 hour fast
Do not do lipid panel within 3 weeks of a febrile illness
Elevated cholesterol in children:
Total cholesterol > 200 mg/dl
LDL > 130 mg/dl
Bile-acid-resin binders
Cholestyramine (Questran)
Colestipol (Colestid)
Side effects:
Constipation, N&V, indigestion
Nursing considerations:
Interferes with fat soluble vitamin absorption so needs supplements
Administer before meals
Statins
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors – Lovastatin (Altocor)
Side effects:
HA and abdominal pain rarely
Rare but serious – rhabdomyolysis
Discontinue medicine immediately with new onset of muscle aches or dark brown urine
Nursing considerations:
Take in evening
Teratogenic
Grapefruit juice may increase risk of side effects
