Question

A patient with pneumonia is admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of septic shock. She is confused. Her extremities are cool to touch. A central line catheter is inserted. The patient’s blood pressure is 76/40 with a heart rate of 100 beats/min.

1. What pharmacological treatment will the nurse expect to administer first? What assessment findings would indicate that the treatment is effective?

Answer 1

ANSWER: The pharmacological treatment that the nurse will administer first is Vasopressors, the drugs to increase Blood Pressure. Vasopressors are the drug of choice in sepsis patients with hypotension. These drugs causes narrowing of blood vessels, thereby increasing the mean arterial pressure and thus stabilising the blood pressure. As per the doctors order, the prescribed vasopressor will be given to the patient in infusion/bolus form. Common Vasopressors used in Intensive Care Unit are Norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, Dopamine, Dobutamine, etc. Thereafter, antibiotics has to be started to treat sepsis & pneumonia.

The assessment findings that will indicate that the treatment is effective are as follows:

• Increase in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure.
• Regular heart beat and stable vital signs.
• Warm extremities since the Blood Pressure is stabilized, the good flow of circulation among the extremities will be restored.
• Patient will be conscious to time, place and person.