Exam 1: Things are Critical Flashcards
(199 cards)
what is the intensive care unit?
-can be defined as a specialized section of a hospital that provides comprehensive care. for persons who are critically ill
–> around-the clock monitoring and treatment of critically ill patients, staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals & contains sophisticated monitoring equipment
Pharmacist role: direct patient care activities
-interdisciplinary pt care rounds
-code blue/code stroke response
-perform medication histories
-prevent and manage adverse drug events/medication errors
-pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic monitoring
-patient and caregiver education
Pharmacist role: indirect patient care activities
-policy and protocol development
-formulary management
-research
-participation in committees
PKPD changes in critically ill patients
-fluid shifts
-renal dysfunction
-hepatic dysfunction
Specific prophylaxis considerations in critically ill patients
-ventilator associated pneumonia
-stress ulcer prophylaxis
-venous thromboembolism prophylaxis
Nutrition considerations in critically ill patients
-enteral vs parenteral
FAST HUGS BID (what it is)
-emphasizes the important aspects of critical care medicine that can be applied twice daily to critically ill patients
-can serve as a “check-list” to ensure all elements of ICU care are being accounted for to provide safe, effective care in this setting
FAST HUGS BID (what it stands for)
-feeding
-analgesia
-sedation
-thromboprophylaxis
-head of bed (VAP prophylaxis)
-ulcer prophylaxis
-glycemic control
-spontaneous breathing trial
-bowel regimen
-indwelling catheters
-de-escalation of antibiotics
FAST HUGS BID: feeding
-malnutrition can lead to impaired immune function –> increased susceptibility to infection, impaired wound healing, bacterial overgrowth in the GI tract and an increased risk for development of decubitus ulcers
-feeding should be considered as soon as the pt is clinically stable
FAST HUGS BID: feeding considerations
-emphesis on an early feeding: enteral feeding is PREFERRED –> stimulated the gut to work, has been associated with less GI bleeding
-parenteral nutrition may become necessary if the pts gut it not working or enteral feeds are not being tolerated
FAST HUGS BID: Analgesia - why are they in pain and assessment
-pain due to underlying conditions (trauma, surgery), standard ICU care (lines, tubes, turning/repositioning, physical therapy )
Importance: providing adequate analgesia optimizes pt comfort and minimizes the acute stress response, hyper metabolism, increased oxygen consumption, hyper coagulability, and alterations in immune function- can also reduce the risk of developing agitation
FAST HUGS BID: Analgesia - type of pain and common meds used
–> type of pain: nociceptive vs neuropathic: helps to choose best agent to relieve pain
–> duration of pain: helps us determine whether we need long acting agents or as needed boluses for situation pain
–> account for home pain regimens: make sure underdosing isnt occurring in pts that receive high doses at home
Common meds: fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone
FAST HUGS BID: Sedation
-pts in the ICU have multiple reasons to become agitated: anxiety, pain, lack of homeostasis, withdrawal, benzo use, sleep-wake cycle disruption
-sedative admin optimizes patient comfort and minimizes the acute stress response
FAST HUGS BID: Sedation - assessment and drug use
-sedation should be assessed and reassessed with a validated tool such as RASS or SAS
-propofol and dexmedetomide are the preferred sedative agents over continuous benzos as they have been associated with more delirium and neurocognitive implications
FAST HUGS BID: Thromboembolism Prophylaxis- importance & considerations
Importance: critically-ill pts have been shown to be at higher risk for VTE than general medical patients due to the additional risk factors for VTE acquired in the critical care setting
Considerations:
–> VTE prophylaxis should be given to ALL pts in the ICU
–> most common options: low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin 40 mg SQ daily or 30 mg AQ BID) or unfractionated heparin in pts with renal dysfunction ( 500 units SQ Q8H)
-high risk pts: mechanical prophylaxis with graduated compression stockings or intermittent pneumatic compression devices should be initiated
FAST HUGS BID: head of the bed : ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) prophylaxis
-importance: specific to pts receiving mechanical ventilation: elevating the head and thorax above the bed to a 30-45 degree angle reduces the occurrence of GI reflux and nosocomial pneumonia in pts who are receiving mechanical ventilation
–> maintain the head of the bed elevated at 30-45 degrees, apply antiseptic mouthwash (chlorhexidine 0.12%) topically to the oral cavity TID to maintain pts oral hygiene to prevent bacterial growth with the endotracheal tube
FAST HUGS BID: ulcer prophylaxis- importance
-critically ill pts develop stress-related mucosal damage (SRDM), potentially leading to clinically significant bleeding
(SRMD: an acute erosive, inflammatory upper GI insult to the upper GI tract associated with critical illness)
FAST HUGS BID: ulcer prophylaxis - risk factors for GI bleeding
–> major (need 1): mechanical ventilation > 48 hrs or INR > 1.5, PTT > 2x ULN or platelets < 50,000
–> minor (need 2 or more): drugs that increase bleed risk (steroids, warfarin, heparin), shock/sepsis/hypotension/vasopressors, hepatic/renal failure, multiple traumas, burns > 35% total body, organ transplant, head or spinal trauma, hx of upper GI bleeding or peptic ulcer disease
Drugs to use for prophylaxis: PPIs (pantoprazole), H2RAs (famotidine) - continue until risk factors have resolved
FAST HUGS BID: glycemic control
-hyperglycemia is common in critically ill pts due to meds (steroids, BBs, vasopressors), exogenous glucose (TPN)
-maintaining blood glucose at 140-180 mg/dL should be considered in the acutely ill patient
FAST HUGS BID: Spontaneous breathing trial
-a spontaneous breathing trial is performed on pts on mechanical ventilation and assesses the pts ability to breathe on minimal or no ventilatory support and is designed to assess whether the pts respiratory mechanics are favorable enough to consider liberation from mechanical ventilation
–> should be performed daily to determine a pts extubation readiness with the goal of weaning off of mechanical ventilatory support as early as possible
FAST HUGS BID: bowel regimen
-constipation can occur in many pts: regimen options = docusate, sennosides, polyethylene glycol for standing regimens, bisacodyl suppositories, enemas, magnesium citrate for rescue options
-diarrhea can also occur: infection, feeds, aggressive bowel regimen
FAST HUGS BID: indwelling Catheters:
-important to assess lines at least daily for signs of infection
-assessing the need for these lines or if they can be removed
peripheral venous catheters
a catheter placed into a peripheral vein for venous access to administer IV therapy
centeral venous catheters
lines that terminate in the superior vena cava, just above the right atrium