Question

Ef, 70-year-old man is scheduled for surgery to remove gallstones. He has been in fairly good health and is scheduled for surgery to remove gallstones. His only other problem is a terror in his hands. His primary physician would like him to start on benztropine after surgery for his tremor. Preoperative medications, meperidine 75 mg and atropine sulfate 0.4 mg, were given intramuscularly 1 hour before surgery.

What are the advantages of giving atropine sulfate before surgery?
What are some complications of atropine sulfate?
If a patient received an atropine-like drug for several months, what assessments should be made related to its effects?
How does atropine sulfate differ from bethanechol chloride?
This patient will receive benztropine for his tremors after he heals from surgery:
What classification of drug is benztropine and how does it work? Explain your answer.
What patient teaching should the nurse include related to the use of benztropine?

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

1. The advantages of the medication are: stability of the heart rate, reduction of the mucus that can harm the surgery.

2. Possible complications are: nausea, vision problems, decreased coporal sweating, decreased saliva.

3. If the patient has received a similar medication for several months, it is necessary to make assessments of the patient's body condition, especially regarding sleep stability.

4. Bethanechol chloride is used to reduce bladder problems, while atropine sulfate is used to maintain cardiac stability, especially during surgery.

5. Benztropine is classified as an anticholinergic, which are drugs that act on the nervous system, preventing the tremors caused by Parkinson's disease.

6. The nurse must inform that the patient must take the medication three times a day, in doses of 0.5 - 2 mg, which should be increased gradually.