61.1k views
3 votes
Robert Sturgess, 81 years old, has been diagnosed with Metastatic CA of Colon and has a history of diabetes. He is currently receiving palliative care. He has no known allergies. His vital signs are as follows: Temperature 98.7°F, Blood Pressure 114/67 mmHg, Pulse 115 beats per minute, Respiratory Rate 20 breaths per minute, and Oxygen Saturation 98

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The query pertains to an elderly patient with metastatic colon cancer and diabetes who exhibits vital signs with a slightly elevated pulse, underscoring the importance of meticulous patient care and infection control in managing complex health conditions like cancer and associated comorbidities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The case presented involves an 81-year-old patient with a diagnosis of Metastatic CA of Colon and a history of diabetes, receiving palliative care.

Vital signs reveal a relatively stable condition with a slight tachycardia (pulse of 115 beats per minute). No known allergies are reported.

Examples of similar clinical scenarios include a patient with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer experiencing a localized infection at the site of a central venous catheter, and another instance where a type II diabetic develops a serious infection following an untreated wound. In both scenarios, infections complicate the underlying health conditions, leading to critical situations such as sepsis or gangrenous inflammation.

The array of conditions such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, lymphoma, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma illustrate the diversity and severity of oncological and infectious conditions that can arise in such patients.

Effective management requires careful monitoring of vital signs, infection control, and appropriate palliative interventions.

User Manticore
by
8.2k points