Critical care nursing clinics of North America
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Sep 2016
ReviewParoxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management.
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a well-known and thoroughly studied clinical syndrome, characterized by regular tachycardia rhythm with sudden onset and abrupt termination. Most patients present with palpitations and dizziness, and their electrocardiogram demonstrates a narrow QRS complex and regular tachycardia with hidden or inverted P waves. ⋯ Hemodynamically stable patients are treated by vagal maneuvers, intravenous adenosine, diltiazem, or verapamil, hemodynamically unstable patients are treated by cardioversion. Patients with symptomatic and recurrent PSVT can be treated with long-term drug treatment or catheter ablation.
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 2016
ReviewComplications of Sedation in Critical Illness: An Update.
Sedation is a necessary component of care for the critically ill. Oversedation, however, is associated with immediate complications and long-term problems, termed post-intensive care unit syndrome. It also contributes to unnecessary costs of care. This article describes the physical, functional, psychiatric, and cognitive complications of oversedation, and multiple research-based strategies that minimize complications.
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 2016
ReviewTolerance and Withdrawal Issues with Sedatives in the Intensive Care Unit.
Prolonged use of sedative medications continues to be a concern for critical care practitioners, with potential adverse effects including tolerance and withdrawal. The amount of sedatives required in critically ill patients can be lessened and tolerance delayed with the use of pain and/or sedation scales to reach the desired effect. The current recommendation for prolonged sedation is to wean patients from the medications over several days to reduce the risk of drug withdrawal. It is important to identify patients at risk for iatrogenic withdrawal and create a treatment strategy.
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Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 2016
ReviewApplication of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pain, Agitation, and Delirium.
Critically ill patients experience several severe, distressing, and often life-altering symptoms during their intensive care unit stay. A clinical practice guideline released by the American College of Critical Care Medicine provides a template for improving the care and outcomes of the critically ill through evidence-based pain, agitation, and delirium assessment, prevention, and management. Key strategies include the use of valid and reliable assessment tools, setting a desired sedation level target, a focus on light sedation, choosing appropriate sedative medications, the use of nonpharmacologic symptom management strategies, and engaging and empowering patients and their family to play an active role in their intensive care unit care.
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This article reviews current literature regarding the neuro intensive care unit (ICU) and the ICU setting in general regarding delirium, pain, agitation, and evidence-based guidelines and assessment tools. Delirium in the ICU affects as many as 50% to 80% of patients. ⋯ We reviewed current national clinical guidelines, validated tools for assessing pain, agitation/sedation, and delirium. We also reviewed a delirium risk-assessment/prediction tool.