CHAPTER 3 Immune System^149
- Oxygen therapy to support breathing.
- Insert endotracheal tube to maintain airway.
NURSING DIAGNOSES
- Decrease cardiac output
- Risk for suffocation
- Anxiety
NURSING INTERVENTION
- Maintain airway to facilitate breathing.
- Monitor for hoarseness and difficulty breathing to check for symptoms of
decreased respiration. - Explain to the patient:
- Avoid exposure to allergens to prevent future occurrences.
- Seek medical help immediately if exposed to allergens to prevent ana-
phylaxis.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive form of arthritis that affects <1 per-
cent of the population. Joints between the spine and pelvis become inflamed, as
do some of the ligaments, resulting in instability of the joints. Heredity factors play
an important role in the development of AS. The disease is strongly associated
with the presence of histocompatibility antigen HLA-B27 on the chromosomes of
affected individuals. It begins in the sacroiliac joints and spreads up the spine.
PROGNOSIS
The course of the disease may vary in each case and from individual to individual.
Some have episodes of transient back pain while others have more chronic severe
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