Question

The physician orders a pulmonary artery occlusive (PAOP) for a patient being monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter. Immediately after obtaining an occlusive pressure, the nurse notes the change in waveform indicated on the strip below. What are the best actions by the nurse?

Answer 1

The nurse should release the cuff pressure immediately and monitor the patient for any signs of distress or complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The change in waveform on the strip after obtaining a pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAOP) indicates a decrease or absence of blood flow in the pulmonary artery. This may be caused by the occlusion of the artery due to the inflated cuff. The best actions by the nurse would be to release the cuff pressure immediately to restore blood flow and assess the patient for any signs of distress or complications.

After releasing the cuff, the nurse should monitor the patient closely for any changes in vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels. The nurse should also document the occurrence and the response to the occlusion and report it to the physician or the healthcare team for further evaluation and management.