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Case Study VI

James, 16 year male, is admitted to your unit for complaints of palpitations and dizziness. On admission he had no symptoms complaints, but right after your shift starts he calls and tells you his palpitations are starting again. He is very anxious.

Physical Assessment:

Neuro: AAOx3, perrla, exhibits restlessness and complains of anxiety.
Pulmonary: Lungs clear to auscultation in all lobes. Respiratory rate rapid.
GI: BS active x 4 quadrants, abdomen soft and non tender.
GU: Voiding clear yellow urine in adequate amounts.
CV: Heart sounds rapid S1S2, good capillary refill, peripheral pulses 2+, complains of palpitations.

Vital signs: Pulse 160, BP 100/64, Resp. rate 22, temp 98.7 F

History: James is a normally healthy teenager. He is active in track sports and does not smoke or consume alcohol. He states that the palpitations and dizziness started about a month ago and he experiences episodes once or twice per week.

Diagnostic studies: Na+ 140, K+ 3.4, BUN and creat normal, Cardiac markers all normal.

EKG rhythm strip:

Questions: (IMPORTANT! See instructions below*)

1. What rhythm is this?

2. Which of the following medications would be appropriate for this dysrhythmia?

3. This dysrhythmia is more common in teenagers and young adults.

4. Nursing care for James would include?

5. An interventional technique to eliminate this dysrhythmia is:

The basic dysrhythmia course that is recommended as background for this Cardiac Case Studies course is the RnCeus.com course:

EKG Strip Indentification and Evaluation

*IMPORTANT!

Please write down and save your answers to the above questions. The questions will be repeated on the "Exam and Evaluation", but the scenarios and strips will not be repeated.