A 53-year-old, 80-kg patient is admitted to the cardiac surgical intensive care unit after cardiac surgery

Question

Four hours after admission to the surgical intensive care unit at 4 PM, the patient has stable vital signs and normal arterial blood gases (ABGs) and is placed on a T-piece for ventilatory weaning. During the nurse's 7 PM (1900) assessment, the patient is restless, heart rate has increased to 110 beats/min, respirations are 36 breaths/min, and blood pressure is 156/98 mm Hg. The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia with 10 premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) per minute. Pulmonary artery pressures are elevated. The nurse suctions the patient and obtains pink, frothy secretions. Loud crackles are audible throughout lung fields. The nurse notifies the physician, who orders an ABG analysis, electrolyte levels, and a portable chest x-ray study. In communicating with the physician, which statement indicates the nurse understands what is likely occurring with the patient? a. "May we have an order for cardiac enzymes? This patient is exhibiting signs of a myocardial infarction."
b. "My assessment indicates potential fluid overload."
c. "The patient is having frequent PVCs that are compromising the cardiac output."
d. "The patient is having a hypertensive crisis; what medications would you like to order?"

Answer 1

B
The crackles, high pulmonary artery pressure, and pink, frothy sputum indicate fluid volume overload. There are not any cues to suggest a myocardial infarction. The PVCs may be related to the surgery or hypoxemia; however, the blood pressure indicates adequate perfusion. The blood pressure is high secondary to fluid overload; treatment of the fluid overload will result in a decrease in blood pressure.