When there is a blockage or compression of the superior vena cava then superior vena cava syndrome can occur. In Dr. Bob Johnston's case (a smoker of 37 years) lung cancer could be the cause. At first, Johnston's symptoms were assumed to be allergies. He was familiar with the headache, stuffiness and congestion during the spring season. As a result, his physician prescribed a higher dose of antihistamines to counteract the irritants. The patient blamed his weight gain, feeling unwell, head fullness and facial swelling on the new dosage of antihistamine medication. Johnston called 911 after his sleep was interrupted due to chest pain, difficulty breathing especially while lying flat, and trouble swallowing. On his way to the hospital, other …show more content…
The use of steroids should be avoided in this case since lung cancer is a likely cause. However, diuretics to reduce the fluid buildup can be used. Superior vena cava syndrome can indeed prove to be life threatening. More extensive treatment can vary depending on the cause of the syndrome. In this case, the patient’s history of carcinogenic exposure to his lungs may require a treatment route of radiation or chemotherapy. In order to thoroughly treat the syndrome, the malignant cause must also be treated. In addition to the cancer combating therapies, a stent can also be placed in the superior vena cava of the heart. This helps promote blood flow and can even prevent life threatening complications such as a heart attack. Stenting is a relatively safe and effective treatment when dealing with this syndrome. Bypass surgery is a procedure used when there is a block of the coronary arteries. This is why the patient’s heart was not receiving enough blood and the complications ensued. Finally, if the tumor has not spread, surgical removal can be effective. A section or the entire lung can be removed. The removal of the lung as a whole is called pneumonectomy. Some of the risks include infection, organ failure,blood clots and collection of pus in the pleural
The risk factors that Jessica presented with are a history that is positive for smoking, bronchitis and living in a large urban area with decreased air quality. The symptoms that suggest a pulmonary disorder include a productive cough with discolored sputum, elevated respiratory rate, use of the accessory respiratory muscles during quite breathing, exertional dyspnea, tachycardia and pedal edema. The discolored sputum is indicative of a respiratory infection. The changes in respiratory rate, use of respiratory muscles and exertional dyspnea indicate a pulmonary disorder since there is an increased amount of work required for normal breathing. Tachycardia may arise due to the lack of oxygenated blood available to the tissue stimulating an increase in heart rate. The pedal edema most probably results from decreased systemic blood flow.
Most of the time, it is from smoking. The tissue in the lungs will become inflame and produce mucous because of exposure to these chemicals. Theophylline and ß2 agonist will act to relax and dilate the airways and allow more oxygen to enter. They will also decrease the lungs sensitivity so that they do not react so much to inhaled chemicals.
By looking at the physical symptoms Jerry was experiencing, paramedics determined that Jerry’s medical distress
It incorporates dietary advising, exercise training, and mental guiding. There are also numerous surgical treatment alternatives. For example, the removal of nasal polyps that block breathing, oxygen treatment to prevent pulmonary hypertension, endoscopy and lavage to suction mucus from airways, the surgical insertion of a feeding tube may be important to convey supplements while sleeping. In cases where life-threatening lung complexities arise, a lung transplant may be viewed as an option.
There are four different categories of treatment: lifestyle changes, surgical procedures, non-surgical procedures, and medications. Lifestyle changes include having a healthy diet; increasing physical activity; eliminating cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and illicit drugs; and getting enough rest and sleep; losing excess weight. These lifestyle changes are to lower the patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol, and reducing any other future medical conditions. There are also surgical options to help cure, prevent, or control cardiomyopathy. Surgical method include a septal myectomy, surgically implanted devices, and a heart transplant. A septal myectomy is used to specifically treat hypertrophy cardiomyopathy which is where the heart muscle cells enlarge and cause the walls of the ventricles to thicken. The thickening of the walls may not affect the size of the ventricles but instead may affect the blood flow out of the ventricle. Usually along with the ventricles swelling, the septum in between the ventricles can become enlarged and block the blood flow causing a heart attack. When medication is not working well to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a surgeon will open the chest cavity and remove part of the septum that is blocking blood flow. Surgically implanted devices include a pacemaker, a cardiac resynchronization therapy device, a left ventricular assist device, and an implantable
Whether lung cancer is operable or not, may well depend upon the circumstances of the patient involved; however, where certain factors do not allow for this option, other treatments may well be offered. Many factors must be taken into consideration before any treatment or operation can take place, as either may have a prominent bearing on the prognosis of the cancer patient.
After review of the timeline of the events surrounding Mr. B, there are several causative factors that led to this sentinel event. These are inappropriate staffing, inability to identify trends of deterioration, policy for conscious sedation was not followed, inadequate observation and monitoring, failure to respond to alarms, inadequate home medication evaluation, medication dosing, appropriate medication administration times, and failure to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a timely manner.
Since he had so much downtime he had added his name to a volunteer list of emergency ambulance calls. Gary and his wife had lived in very small prairie town in the middle of of a farm country. With one hamy-down ambulance that the city had given them since they had bought new ones. They had answered calls to car accidents ,farming accidents,gun accidents,poisonings,and a very good amount of heart attacks. He would usually go alone or sometimes with another man who had also volunteered to answer emergency ambulance calls. He recalls that he has seen at least a dozen heart attack victims in the last year. Sometimes the distance were so long that he could not make it. If he did they had to wait at most an hour or maybe longer for the flight for life helicopter. One day he can remember was one day a woman called and said” quick it's my Harvey he is having chest pains again”. He got in the car should of got there in twenty minutes but he got there fourteen by driving like a crazy person. Then saw the man with a weird smile as if trying to say sorry for the difficulty. The wife had also gave him a look like thank god you're here save him please the gray look on him was bad. When he tried to put him on his back he jolted for some reason as if he was getting hit by electricity became stiff and fell on the ground. He told the wife to call for the chopper. Then bent
John Reynolds is a 56 year old gentleman admitted to the ward through the emergency department. He fell off a ladder at home whilst cleaning his chimney. He fell approximately 8-10 feet onto concrete. He had sudden pain to his left leg and this remained the...
Gibb’s model (1988) first describes the event, so my description of the event is: Mr X was admitted to the medical assessment unit (MAU) from the A+E (accident and emergency) department, with a preliminary diagnosis of a T.I.A. (transient ischemic attack) and dysphasia. Ross and Wilson (1996) describe this as, caused by small...
...problem that lead him to this hospitalization. A reevaluation after 21 days was ordered by the doctor to determine if the herbs were the contributing factor to the patients’ chest pain and shortness of breath due to tachycardia.
My colleague and I received an emergency call to reports of a female on the ground. Once on scene an intoxicated male stated that his wife is under investigation for “passing out episodes”. She was lying supine on the kitchen floor and did not respond to A.V.P.U. I measured and inserted a nasopharyngeal airway which was initially accepted by my patient. She then regained consciousness and stated, “Oh it’s happened again has it?” I removed the airway and asked my colleague to complete base line observations and ECG which were all within the normal range. During history taking my patient stated that she did not wish to travel to hospital. However each time my patient stood up she collapsed and we would have to intervene to protect her safety and dignity, whilst also trying to ascertain what was going on. During the unresponsive episodes we returned the patient to the stretcher where she spontaneously recovered and refused hospital treatment. I completed my patient report form to reflect the patient's decision and highlighted my concerns. The patient’s intoxicated husband then carried his wife back into the house.
Cardiovascular System: He does not experience any chest pain or palpitation. He does not have dyspnea or leg swelling.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze, diagnose, and to determine a proper treatment plan to work toward the beneficial prognosis for the individual indicated within the case study.
In conclusion, early diagnosis followed by an appropriate airway intervention is essential to prevent cardiac arrest or irreversible brain damage that occurs within minutes of complete airway obstruction. Although the conventional techniques remains standard option, every physician has to be familiar with the process of evaluating a difficult airway and, in the event of the unanticipated difficult airway and be able to use a wide variety of techniques to avoid complications and fatality. Airway management of the patient requires a coordinated effort from other consultants or colleagues, if available, can be the key to success in some circumstances.