Clinical Complications Flashcards
Hypotension:
Signs and symptoms: patient may experience, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision. Notify RN, if bp continues to drop, patient has the chance of going unconscious and going into cardiac arrest and even dying.
What do you do if patient starts going into hypotension?
Please patient in reclining position or in Trendelenburg with feet elevated, turn the UF down or off. Notify RN and give normal saline bolus as needed per RN request.
Cramping:
Caused by shifting of electrolytes, attempting to pull a large amount of fluid in a short period of time or going below patients EDW.
Fever &/ chills
Caused by infection, contaminated dialyzer or lines, too cold of dialysate, shaking, shivering. (Infection can cause decrease in blood pressure)
Chest Pain:
Angina which is lack of oxygen to the heart muscle can occur. Turn down BFR and UF off. Will administer oxygen to patient.
Hyperglycemia:
Some glucose is removed during treatment in some patients may experience signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Patient may experience fitness, double vision, irritability, hunger, can proceed to coma and death if not treated. Notify RN
Disequilibrium syndrome:
This may happen if a patient’s blood unit number it’s exceptionally high such as with a brand new patient during his first treatment or patient has missed a number of his treatment. Includes signs and symptoms of ,nausea, vomiting, headache, hypertension, confusion, and restlessness.
Hemolysis:
Signs and symptoms include: shortness of breath, chest pain, bright red translucent blood in chamber.
Air Embolism:
Air bubble black in a blood vessel. Signs and symptoms include: shortness of breath, coffee, chest pain.
Blood loss:
One of the causes of this is chlorine in the extracorporal circuit. Clotting in the extracorporal circuit can occur whenever blood flow rate is too slow or pump has stopped or there is air in the system.
