Congestive Heart Failure Case Study

Cast study 2 Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition that affects the pumping power of heart muscles. It does not mean heart has stopped functioning. It means the heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands the way it should. This condition results blood and fluid back up into the lungs, lower extremities, abdomen, and liver. As the condition progress it makes trouble in breathing and can be threatening to life. The most common type is left sided CHF. Immediate medical treatment is important for this condition. Considering Mr.P’s condition, this paper discuses approach to care, treatment plan, education and teaching plan regarding cardiomyopathy and congestive hearth failure (CHF).

Approach to Care

• Assess patient

Diuretics to remove extra fluid from the body, there by reducing dyspnea.

• Monitor laboratory results as necessary; ABGs (Arterial blood gas), blood electrolyte.

• Provide low sodium diet and fluid restriction.

• Strictly monitor for intake and output and daily weight.

• Provide support, reassure, advocate and educate patient and family.

Treatment plan Early diagnosis and treatment can assist people live longer and more effective lives. CHF treatment depends on type and severity of patient’s condition. The main focus should be on treating underlying cause, reduce symptoms, preventing condition from getting worse and improve quality of life. The common medicines used in CHF; Angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors such as enalapril, lisinopril, captopril helps to reduce blood pressure (ACE inhibitors open up narrow blood vessels to increase blood flow), Beta-blockers such as carvedilol, metoprolo, bisoprolol helps to reduce heart rate and blood pressure (block the effect of hormone epinephrine, open up blood vessels to improve blood flow), Diuretics such as lasix, bumex helps to get rid of excess fluid from lungs and body, Digoxin (helps heart beat stronger and pump more blood), Isosorbide dinitrate/ hydralazine hydrochloride helps blood vessels relax to ease heart pump, Aldosterone antagonists causes body to eliminate additional sodium through urine,

CHF education helps individual to understand disease process, recognize sign and symptoms necessitating medical attention, and treatment plan. “The goals of providing education are to help patient and family acquire knowledge, skills, strategies, problem solving abilities, motivation in treatment plan and effective participation in self care”(Get with, n.d.). Teach - back and self-management tool are the most effective teaching and assessment of patient’s understanding and recall. It is also called “closing the loop” or the “show me” method. This method confirms the patient understands the information given by the health providers (Xu,