Question

On admission, a patient with a history of cardiac insufficiency complains of shortness of breath. The nurse auscultates his lungs and notes bilateral crackles throughout both fields. In addition, he has bilateral +2 edema of his lower extremities. The nurse anticipates his health care provider will prescribe:

Answer 1

The health care provider will likely prescribe diuretics to remove excess fluid, vasodilators to lessen heart workload, ACE inhibitors to improve heart function, and oxygen therapy to aid in breathing and oxygen saturation, plus require further tests to evaluate cardiac function.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's symptoms of shortness of breath, bilateral crackles in the lungs, and bilateral +2 edema suggest the presence of cardiac insufficiency leading to pulmonary edema. Given the urgency of these symptoms, which indicate that the patient's heart is struggling to pump effectively, and fluid is accumulating in the lungs impairing gas exchange, immediate medical treatment is necessary. It is likely that the health care provider will prescribe medications such as diuretics to remove excess fluid, possibly vasodilators to decrease the workload on the heart, or other medications like ACE inhibitors to improve heart function. Moreover, oxygen therapy is also commonly administered to assist with breathing and improve oxygen saturation in the blood.

Furthermore, due to the possibility of a cardiac event, the healthcare provider may also order further tests to evaluate cardiac function, possibly including an echocardiogram, ECG, and blood tests to assess cardiac enzymes, electrolytes, and kidney function. A chest x-ray may also be ordered to ascertain the degree of pulmonary edema or to rule out other causes of dyspnea and crackles such as pneumonia. Treatment will be tailored based on the patient's clinical status and the underlying cause of their symptoms.