Question

A patient has sudden onset of dizziness. The patient's heart rate is 180/min, blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, and pulse oximetry reading is 98. What should be the next step in managing this patient?

1) Instruct the patient on vagal maneuvers
2) Prepare for IV Adenosine
3) Prepare for cardioversion
4) Monitor the patient's vital signs for a decrease in blood pressure

Answer 1

The next step in managing this patient with sudden onset dizziness and a heart rate of 180/min should be to prepare for cardioversion. Vagal maneuvers and IV adenosine are used for the treatment of SVT, but since the heart rate is very high, cardioversion is the most appropriate next step.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the sudden onset of dizziness and a heart rate of 180/min, the next step in managing this patient should be to prepare for cardioversion. Cardioversion is a procedure that uses electric shocks to restore a regular heart rhythm in patients with certain types of arrhythmia, including tachycardia. In this case, the high heart rate and the presence of dizziness suggest that the patient may benefit from immediate cardioversion to stabilize the heart rhythm and alleviate symptoms.

Vagal maneuvers and IV adenosine are commonly used for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but since the question does not mention any specific diagnosis, and the heart rate is very high, cardioversion is the most appropriate next step.

Monitoring the patient's vital signs for a decrease in blood pressure is also important, but immediate action to address the underlying tachycardia should take precedence.