INTRODUCTION Respiratory failure is a sudden and life-threatening deterioration of the gas exchange function of the lung. It exists when the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide in the lungs cannot keep up with the rate of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production by the cells of the body. DEFINITION Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is defined as a fall in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) to less than 50 mm Hg (hypoxemia) and a rise in arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) to greater than 50 mm Hg (hypercapnia), with an arterial pH of less than 7.35. Respiratory failure is inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that levels of arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide or both cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. The normal reference values are: oxygen PaO2 greater than 80 mmHg (11 kPa), and carbon dioxide PaCO2 less than 45 mmHg (6.0 kPa).
Secondary outcomes were disability and quality of life measures. 1. The major strengths were that the study eliminated the potential for a differential response bias by using hospital records and not patient self-reporting. It was a successful randomization
It can lead to complications. Atrial fibrillation may lead to blood clots forming in the heart that may circulate to other organs and lead to blocked blood flow (ischemia)” The danger of this disorder is that the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to support the functioning of the body. There are some patients who will have some, all, or no symptoms at all. Some symptoms include: • “Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flip-flopping in your chest • Weakness • Reduced ability to exercise • Fatigue • Lightheadedness • Dizziness • Confusion • Shortness of breath • Chest pain Atrial fibrillation may be: • Occasional. In this case it's called paroxysmal (par-ok-SIZ-mul) atrial fibrillation.
Stroke Awareness Health Assessment The self-risk assessment I chose to complete was about strokes. A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted or disturbed. Being that the brain requires a constant flow of oxygen any interruptions could prove to be fatal. The two types of strokes are Ischemic or hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is typically caused by excess buildup of plague on the blood vessel walls that narrows blood flow dramatically.
A myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is a diseased state in the heart that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart has been occluded or interrupted. This results in a state of ischemia in which oxygen shortage to the heart causes damage and potential death of the heart tissue itself (Black & Hawks, 2009). This is considered a medical emergency, and is leading cause of death in both men and women all over the world. Past history can play a major role and important risk factors can include a previous history of vascular diseases such as atherosclerotic coronary heart disease and/or angina, a previously suffered heart attack or stroke, any cases of abnormal heart rhythms and snycopal episodes (Hudson, M., Christenson, R., Newby, L., Kaplan, A., & Ohman, E. 1999). In men over forty and women over fifty, smoking, the abuse of illicit drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, high LDL and low HDL levels, obesity, and chronically high levels of stress can majorly increase the chances of a myocardial infarction (Black & Hawks, 2009).
Abstract Research studies on the prevalence of ventilator-associated-pneumonia indicate that many hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit under mechanical ventilation are likely of a secondary diagnosis of the disease. Research has indicated early diagnosis of VAP for timely intervention as a major problem. The use of quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates (QEA) as a diagnosis has proven to be resilient on simplicity and is also cost-effective while at the same time the method has no side effects. Diagnosis of VAP should be based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria. Adoption and implementation of the modified CPIS is the better option as it is not only cost-effective, but can also be highly specific and sensitive.
Atherosclerosis is a multi focal, smoldering immunoinflammatory disease of medium sized and large arteries filled by lipids. (Curtis M. Rimmerman, 2008) When plaque builds up the condition is called Atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque over many years.If the flow of oxygen rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, Angina or a heart attack can occur. Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. Pain can also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.
Coronary heart disease is a condition in which blood to the heart is deficient because of a narrowing or constricting of the cardiac vessels that supply it. This is due to atherosclerosis (cite text). Atherosclerosis is when fatty deposits known as plaque formation, begin to accumulate to reduce the size of the passageway of the large arteries (cite). Atherosclerosis can also reduce the blood flow which may result in angina pectoris. With angina comes shortness of breath and pain from beneath the breastbone, in the neck, and down the left arm.
Using the numbered referencing system I was able to pinpoint two books within the fields of ‘Infection Control’ and ‘History of Nursing’. Scanning the index within the books to find ‘uniforms’, it quickly became apparent that this was not a suitable key word as it showed nothing within that category in either book. A search for ‘clothing’ provided much better results. Within these results it was discovered that historically, uniforms were more about image rather than having anything to do with infection control, “Starched white aprons, high white collars and stiff white hats signify an almost untouchable purity, calling to mind the ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ cliché”, (Hallam,2000). But this cliché does not seem to hold true in today’s society, as a search of the university database found evidence to show that public perceptions of the nursing uniform are that it poses an infection risk to themselves, and the community, especially when worn outside the clinical area as suggested by Wilson, Loveday, and Pratt (2007).
Read more about the symptoms of pressure ulcers. How pressure ulcers develop Pressure ulcers can develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin over a short period of time. They can also occur when less pressure is applied over a longer period of time. The extra pressure disrupts the flow of blood through the skin. Without a blood supply, the affected skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients and begins to break down, leading to an ulcer forming.