Reference no: EM133867374

Question

Mr. Dwight Schrute is received in the ICU post-op cardiac surgery for a bio AVR. His medical history is significant for severe COPD, active smoker, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and anemia. He arrives post-operatively with high pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP). The nurse has advised the MD that Mr. S's PAP remains elevated, and no immediate interventions were recommended. It was noted that the patient would see their pulmonologist as an outpatient and this information would be sent to them. An incoming nurse takes report from the current nurse and questions why we are not treating the elevated PAP, the current nurse explains that: Question 45 options: all COPD patients have high PAPs post-op cardiac surgery, it is normal, and the PAP will stabilize on its own. there is nothing to do to treat elevated PAPs in post-op cardiac surgery patients as it is a normal post-cardiac surgery complication. pulmonary vasoconstriction secondary to hypoxia from the patient's COPD likely led to elevated PAPs and treating it now could impact their oxygenation status. pulmonary vasoconstriction secondary to hypoxia from the patient's COPD likely led to elevated PAPs and lowering their PAP could affect the contractility of their heart.