Question

Critical Thinking Questions: Dysrhythmia Interpretation and Management

1. You are working in the intensive care unit, and your patient’s heart rate suddenly decreases from 88 to 50 beats per minute. What may be some of the reasons for the decreased heart rate? What assessments will you make?

2. Discuss why patients with pulmonary disease are prone to atrial dysrhythmias.

3. A 65-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes pre­sents to the emergency department; she is short of breath and complaining of neck and shoulder pain. Her blood pressure is 185/95, and her heart rate is 155. How will you initially manage this patient? What medical intervention would you anticipate? List serious signs and symptoms of hemodynamic instability in a patient with a tachycardia dysrhythmia.

4. Why does a tachycardia sometimes lead to heart failure?

Answer 1

Question 1:

Reasons:

1. Beta blocker

2. Amiodaron

3. Calcium channel blocker

4. Hypokakemia

5. Third degree heart block

6. Digoxin

7. Hypokalemia

Assessment:

1. Assess for chest pain

2. Fatigue

3. Dizziness

4. Headache

5.Shortness of breath

6. Restlessness

7. Confusion

Question II.

1. Patient with pulmonary diseases may develop arrhythmias, this is due to anatomic, physiological alteration of lung and heart.

Example:

If the patient with pulmonary diseases the lungs are unable to pump the blood that may cause cardiac hypertrophy, that may results in cardiac arrhythmias.

Question III.

1. Comfortable bed, positions.

2. Provide rest

3. Pain management

4. Oxygen administration

5. Psychological support

Medical intervention:

1. Anti hypertensive drug

2. Anti arrhythmic drugs

3. Analgesics

4. Adequate hydration

5. Insulin administration

Signs and symptoms:

1. Fluttering of chest

2. Rapid heart rate, Palpitation

3. Shortness of breath

4. Dizziness

5. Sweating

6. Pounding sensation of neck

7. Fainting

question IV.

Tachycardia is increase in heart rate.

This tachycardia causes the heart to pump rapid but heart may not pump the blood effectively to other parts of body.

So Major organ won't receive the blood properly, that may cause heart failure and tachycardia.