Case Austin Community College - NURSING 341 vsim Vernon Watkins.CONCEPT MAP WORKSHEET

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is the blockage of one or more pulmonary arteries by a thrombus, fat or air embolus, or tumor tissue. These clots do not stop moving until they lodge at a narrowed part of the circulatory system. A pulmonary embolus consists of material that gain access to the venous system and then to the pulmonary circulation. The embolus travels with blood flow through smaller blood vessels until it lodges and obstructs perfusion of the alveoli. The lower lobes of the lungs are most commonly affected and approximately ten percent of patients die from a massive PE within the first hour. Anticoagulants significantly reduce mortality. Lewis, S. M., Bucher, L., Heitkemper, M. M., & Harding, M. M. (2017). Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.  12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) such as T-wave inversion, ST-segment elevation, or the development of an abnormal Q wave (may show changes indicative of ischemia)  Chest X-ray-may show infiltrates, atelectasis, elevation of the diaphragm on the affected side, or a pleural effusion  Spiral CT-Scan with contrast  Arterial blood gas analysis-it may show hypoxemia and hypocapnia (from tachypnea).  D-dimmer test  Prothrombin time  International normalized ratio Vernon Watkins is a 69- year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department 4 days ago with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain and was admitted for emergent surgery for bowel perforation and underwent a hemicolectomy.  Shortness of breath  Chest pain  Nausea  Vomiting  Abdominal pain  Anxiety  Fever  Tachycardia  Apprehension  Diaphoresis  Hemoptysis  Syncope  Maintain oxygen saturation greater than 92%  If SpO2 less than 92% administer oxygen therapy to relieve hypoxemia and dyspnea and position client in high-Fowler’s 90 degrees  Initiate and maintain IV access.  Administer prescribed medications  Withhold medications that may cause respiratory depression  Place 12 lead ECG to monitor cardiac status (dysrhythmias)  Vital signs every 4 hours  Monitor for signs of bleeding.  Assess wound and IV site regularly.  Chest X-Ray  Spinal CT-scan with contrast  Request need for arterial blood gas/stat labs  Check to aPTT in six hours and then follow nurse driven IV heparin protocol