(^68) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
- Systolic click and/or late systolic murmur
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Syncope
- Dyspnea
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- EKG may be normal or show an atrial arrhythmia (irregular P-waves), left
atrial/ventricular enlargement (broad P-, QRS–waves). - Chest x-ray is usually normal, unless left chambers are large (in late disease).
TREATMENT
Treatment of MVP is determined by the severity of the symptoms. Most patients
require endocarditis antibiotic prophylaxis.- Administer antiarrhythmic medications
- Administer anticoagulant medication after valve replacement to prevent
thrombus around the aortic valve. - Ensure patient understands the need for daily, life-long anticoagulation ther-
apy once a mechanical valve is in place:- heparin
- warfarin (Coumadin)—requires frequent labwork to monitor consistency
of blood - dalteparin (Fragmin)
- enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Mitral valve repair or replacement.
NURSING DIAGNOSES
- Anxiety
- Decreased cardiac output
- Activity intolerance