Enfermería intensiva
-
Enfermería intensiva · Oct 1998
Review[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pregnant women: peculiarities].
This review main purpose is to show nursing the present knowledge about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in pregnant women because of the scarce information published by Spanish Nursing Publications. The bibliographical research was made using both the Medline (from January 1982 to March 1998) and Index de Enfermería databases. There, we can find 32 references from which only 23 were selected (all of them belong to the Medline database) in spite of 3 chapters that had already been selected from other different books. ⋯ This review describes the physiological changes that take place during pregnancy and have an incidence into CPR. The article also includes the conclusions about the checked papers and the peculiarities that have to be taken into account in each CPR, such as the fetal viability evaluation, right CPR position, airway and breathing, desfibrillation, external cardiac compression and use of pharmacologic therapy and intravenous fluids. Moreover, there is a special mention of the perimortem cesarean delivery features: antecedents, foetus-maternals consequences and managements, due to the fact that this surgical operation should be included inside the CPR protocols of the pregnant.
-
Enfermería intensiva · Oct 1998
[Quality of life and mortality of patients in intensive care. Indices of quality of life].
At present there is no single practical standardized scale for measuring quality of life (QL). Any proposal should include the patient's physical impairment, level of independence, and subjective perception of happiness. We combined three previously published scales to define a quality of life index (QLI) that we propose as a standard quantitative instrument. The applicability and usefulness of QLI for the measurement of the level of deterioration of patients after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) was examined. We prospectively evaluated QL before patient admission to determine if it influences mortality, as well as long-term changes in the QL and the factors conditioning te deterioration of patients released from the UCI as evaluated by QL indicators. ⋯ QLI was a useful instrument for obtaining a quantitative estimate of the QL of critically ill patients.
-
Enfermería intensiva · Oct 1998
Comparative Study[Effect of age on postoperative care in patients following heart surgery under extracorporeal circulation].
The mean age of patients with heart disease who require surgical treatment is increasing. In conjunction with the development of surgical and postoperative care techniques, the mortality rate of these patients has decreased. In our intensive care unit (ICU), we proposed to determine if older patients undergoing cardiac surgery had more morbidity and required more care than other patients. ⋯ Patients over 70 had more frequent arrhythmias and difficulties in maintaining an optimal respiratory function. Such patients require more nursing care and a longer hospital stay. However, it is concluded that age per se is not a contraindication for heart surgery.
-
Enfermería intensiva · Apr 1998
[Prone position: postural treatment for patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. The nurse's point of view].
The prone position is a therapeutic strategy that can be beneficial in the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In order to evaluate the advantages and possible complications associated with this postural change within the context of nursing, we analyzed retrospectively 71 turns carried out in 32 patients who met criteria for ARDS. ⋯ No extubation or loss of vascular accesses or drainage tubes occurred. Complications included: facial edema, low-pressure lesions, and regurgitation of enteral nutrition.
-
Decubitus ulcers are an important problem which must be known by health professionals in general and by nurses in particular. Its prevention is one of the basic care in Nursing. ⋯ In general, the study proves that 17% of patients develop decubitus ulcers during their hospitalization and that 31.8% of patients who are catalogued as risk patients develop ulcers. The preventive measures introduced are the reassessment and application of prevention and treatment of decubitus ulcers protocols, the creation of improvement groups where these problems are approached, perfecting courses about decubitus ulcers, clinical sessions where strategies are unified, graphic divulging measures (notices, etc.) and antiscaric materials such as heelers, small cushions for head support, pillows, etc.