Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^52) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified

• If the clot dislodges from the vein and travels to the lung, other symptoms
  will develop:
  
  
  • Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) when the clot has traveled to the lungs
  
  
  • Rapid breathing >20 breaths per minute (tachypnea) because of a clot in
    the lungs
  
  
  • Chest pain in the area of clot
  
  
  • Crackle sounds in lungs in the area of clot
  
  
  
  

INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS

• Ultrasound determines if blood is flowing to the affected area.


• Photoplethysmography depicts any defects in venous filling in the affected
  area.


• Lab work to look for clotting disorders.

TREATMENT

Patients with large deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or with comorbidities (a disease

coexisting with, and often impacting on, another disease present), and/or advanced

age should be managed in the hospital. Treatment consists of anticoagulation to

prevent further occurrences.

• Administer anti-inflammatory medication to decrease the inflammation within
  the vessel
  
  
  • aspirin, indomethacin
  
  
  
  


• Administer anticoagulant medication to prevent the clot from becoming
  larger:
  
  
  • heparin, warfarin, dalteparin, enoxaparin
  
  
  
  


• Limit activity initially to diminish risk of moving clot—bedrest with bath-
  room priviledges

NURSING DIAGNOSES

• Ineffective tissue perfusion


• Acute pain


• Impaired skin integrity