A 68 year old female patient is admitted to the post-operative unit following a colon resection. She has a history of MI 6 months ago.
Vital Signs:
BP = 88/68
HR = 112
Urine Output = 15 ml/ hr
This patient has low cardiac output as evidenced by low blood pressure, tachycardia, low CVP, and low urine output. Fluid resuscitation is an appropriate intervention for this patient. Review the labs and determine if bleeding may have been an issue. Assess the body temperature. If the patient is cold, she may be experiencing a high SVR and low cardiac output. Warming the patient will increase vasodilation which will lower SVR and increase the cardiac output.
• Low cardiac output
• BP low
• Compensatory tachycardia
• Low urine output
• Give crystalloids or colloids
• Check Hgb & Hct
• Continue monitoring VS and give fluids/blood accordingly
• Consider other options to improve CO
• What is the patient's temp? How would this affect the patient's hemodynamics?
• Keep patient warm!
Content ©2013. All Rights Reserved.
Date last modified: January 7, 2013.
Created with SoftChalk
mobile page