Question

A 29 year old man is brought into the Emergency Department following a motorcycle accident in which he was thrown six metres. Vital signs on admission are blood pressure 80/60, pulse rate 150, respiratory rate 24 and noisy. He is unconscious, has a bruise over his forehead, there is fresh blood flowing from a laceration in his right groin. Bleeding was controlled and IV therapy has been initiated. Dopamine infusion is also started at 5 ml/hour via an infusion pump. Answer the following questions (10-20 words each). 19.1) What are the purposes of initiating IV therapy in this clinical scenario? 19.2) How does the dopamine infusion help the patient?

Answer 1

ANSWER.

1) Purpose of initiating IV therapy in this scenario.

    * It helps restore fluid volume in the body to prevent hypovolemic shock.

    * IV therapy help to maintain electrolyte balance by administering fluids

      which contain electrolytes.

* It helps to maintain the blood pressure level of the patient.

      * Administration of glucose through IV therapy is necessary for metabolism.

2) Effect of Dopamine infusion in this patient.

         * Dopamine is a catecholamine or sympathomimetic (mimic the action of

   sympathetic system) drug

                 * It Increases blood pressure so help to correct low blood pressure.

                       * It increases force of contraction of heart and cardiac output so helps

                         to prevent hypovolemic and cardiogenic shock due to accident.

                       * It helps to increase blood flow through kidney and glomerular filtration

                         rate so useful to maintain normal renal function in emergency situations.