A patient is transferred to the intensive care unit after abdominal surgery. Vital signs are observed within 20 minutes of arrival. BP 90/58 mm Hg and SpO2 97% on a 40% air-entrainment mask. The patient's color is dusky. The respiratory therapist should
A. assess INR
B. check Hb level
C. administer anticoagulant therapy
D. institute volume ventilation
Answer: B. The low BP and dusky color after surgery is suggestive of anemia and possible internal hemorrhaging, likely a problem that developed as a result of the surgery. An Hb check will definitively determine if internal blood loss is occurring.
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What will be an ideal response?
You are caring for a 42-year-old woman who is 32 weeks pregnant with twins. She is complaining of a severe headache and blurred vision, and lives in a rural area approximately 30 miles from the nearest ED. Your physical exam reveals significant peripheral edema and the following vital signs: heart rate 98, blood pressure 156/98 mmHg, respirations 18. The patient states she has a history of hypertension, but has not taken her prescribed medications because "they aren't safe for the babies." Appropriate treatment for this patient includes:
A) administration of nitroglycerine and delayed transport. B) intravenous calcium chloride and 12-lead ECG. C) administration of aspirin and a prehospital stroke assessment. D) intravenous magnesium sulfate and rapid transport.