AACN clinical issues最新文献

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common dysrhythmia in North America. Paroxysmal or persistent AF affects an estimated 2.8 million individuals, causes significant morbidity, and is associated with 1 billion dollars in healthcare costs each year in the United States. An aging population, the prevalence of hypertension, and the emergence of heart failure as the final common pathway of heart disease finds us in an age where the incidence of AF is ever increasing and the management challenges are indeed an expanding clinical problem. Although guidelines for selection of the appropriate pacing mode have been published, device therapy for the control of AF and paroxysmal AF is an emerging clinical management strategy. In 2001 The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) published a document to revise the 1998 guidelines for device therapy, and even now these guidelines require elucidation and inclusion for the use of cardiac pacing device therapy for the control of atrial dysrhythmia. Choosing a complex system, in particular for the patient with persistent and symptomatic atrial dysrhythmia, is a most intricate challenge for the healthcare professional and the healthcare system. Rate dependent effects on refractoriness, reduction of ectopy, remodeling of the substrate, and prevention of pauses have been described as the potential mechanisms responsible for the rhythmic control effect attributed to atrial pacing. However, while permanent cardiac pacing is required for patients with symptomatic bradycardia with atrioventricular block and AF, the concept of pacing for the primary prevention of AF is novel. Pacing algorithms, single site, biatrial, and dual-site atrial pacing and site-specific pacing have all been studied as substrate modulators to prevent recurrent atrial dysrhythmia.A dilemma exists surrounding the primary approach for the control of symptomatic AF with rapid ventricular response. The question remains: should it be to maintain the sinus rhythm or to control the ventricular response rate to the AF and anticoagulate? Variations in the population studied, differences in the pacing algorithms and protocols, and a lack of definitive end points account for the variable results of the studies completed thus far. With the current data available, it appears that for individuals with sinus node dysfunction and paroxysmal AF in combination with a bradyarrhythmia indication for pacing, suppression algorithms may play an additive role with full atrial pacing in the management and reduction of episodes and burden of paroxysmal AF. The goal of these therapies is to reduce the symptoms and hopefully decrease the healthcare costs associated with paroxysmal and persistent AF with uncontrolled ventricular response.

Young competitive athletes are perceived by the general population to be the healthiest members of society. The possibility that highly trained high school and college athletes may have a potentially serious cardiac condition that can predispose to life-threatening dysrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (SCD) seems paradoxical. The occurrence of SCD in young athletes from dysrhythmias is an uncommon but highly visible event. Media reports of sudden death in athletes have intensified the public and medical interest in medical, ethical, and legal issues related to cardiac disorders in the athlete. Developing screening strategies to identify conditions associated with sudden death has been the focus of attention of experts in the fields of arrhythmology and sports medicine and has resulted in Consensus Statements and Guidelines for evaluation of athletes. These guidelines provide information and recommendations for detection, evaluation, and management of athletes with cardiovascular disorders and criteria for eligibility and disqualification from participation in high-intensity and competitive sports. Differentiating normal exercise-induced physiologic changes in the heart from pathological conditions associated with sudden death is critical for developing screening strategies to identify athletes at high risk. This article discusses a case report of sudden cardiac death in an athlete followed by a brief review of various causes of cardiac dysrhythmias in young athletes and recommendations for screening and management of athletes with cardiovascular diseases.

Patients with heart failure remain at high risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) and death due to heart failure progression, despite the incorporation of pharmacologic agents into clinical practice that have been shown to decrease mortality in clinical trials. Most patients experience SCD as their first dysrrhythmic event. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) effectively terminates ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) aborting SCD. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) complements pharmacologic therapy improving cardiac performance, quality of life, functional status, and exercise capacity in patients with systolic dysfunction despite optimal medical therapy who have a prolonged QRS duration; furthermore, it decreases mortality when compared with optimal medical therapy alone. Implantation of a combination CRT and ICD device, a CRT-D, reduces mortality by aborting SCD and providing the functional benefits of CRT. This article discusses the evolution of CRT-D therapy, the mechanism of operation of a CRT-D device, and nursing implications.

Clinicians caring for cardiac device patients with implanted pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are frequently asked questions by their patients concerning electromagnetic interference (EMI) sources and the devices. EMI may be radiated or conducted and may be present in many different forms including (but not limited to) radiofrequency waves, microwaves, ionizing radiation, acoustic radiation, static and pulsed magnetic fields, and electric currents. Manufacturers have done an exemplary job of interference protection with device features such as titanium casing, signal filtering, interference rejection circuits, feedthrough capacitors, noise reversion function, and programmable parameters. Nevertheless, EMI remains a real concern and a potential danger. Many factors influence EMI including those which the patient can regulate (eg, distance from and duration of exposure) and some the patient cannot control (eg, intensity of the EMI field, signal frequency). Potential device responses are many and range from simple temporary oversensing to permanent device damage Several of the more common EMI-generating devices and their likely effects on cardiac devices are considered in the medical, home, and daily living and work environments.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically significant dysrhythmia. It has great impact on quality of life especially related to complications such as stroke and heart failure as well as functional status and the cost of chronic treatment. Pharmacologic treatment strategies are now better defined and more efficacious. Side effects of drugs are better understood. Recent clinical studies have contributed recommended treatment guidelines. The identification of atrial ectopic foci in cardiac venous sites has defined targets for isolation ablations. Novel catheter ablation techniques are offering improved prognosis for patients with atrial fibrillation.

The initial challenge in primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) lies in identifying those at greatest risk, before the index event. Ventricular fibrillation is the leading cause of SCD; however, many clinical conditions predispose fatal ventricular dysrhythmias. In patients with structural heart disease, left ventricular dysfunction is the strongest predictor of SCD. Noninvasive markers such as nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, delayed potentials, decreased heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity, and repolarization alternans are further observed to assess risk in ischemic cardiomyopathy; however, most of these markers have poor positive predictive value and lack specificity. The electrophysiologic study has strong positive predictive value, but remains a costly and invasive method for risk stratification. In patients with normal hearts, genetic predisposition may identify patients at risk but clinical markers are not readily recognized. The implantable loop recorder is a useful tool in detecting dysrhythmic causes of syncope and identifying patients at risk for SCD.

Body temperature is a balance of the hypothalamic set point, neurotransmitter action, generation of body heat, and dissipation of heat. Drugs affect body temperature by different mechanisms. Antipyretics lower body temperature when the body's thermoregulatory set point has been raised by endogenous or exogenous pyrogens. The use of antipyretics may be unnecessary or may interfere with the body's resistance to infection, mask an important sign of illness, or cause adverse drug effects. Drugs may cause increased body temperature in five ways: altered thermoregulatory mechanisms, drug administration-related fever, fever from the pharmacologic action of the drug, idiosyncratic reactions, and hypersensitivity reactions. Certain drugs cause hypothermia by depression of the thermoregulatory set point or prevention of heat conservation. By affecting the balance of thermoregulatory neurotransmitters, drugs may prevent the signs and symptoms of hot flashes.

Heat stroke (HS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition defined as a core body temperature >40.6 degrees C. Two forms of HS are recognized, classic heat stroke, usually occurring in very young or elderly persons, and exertional heat stroke, more common in physically active individuals. An elevated body temperature and neurologic dysfunction are necessary but not sufficient to diagnose HS. Associated clinical manifestations such as extreme fatigue; hot dry skin or heavy perspiration; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; disorientation to person, place, or time; dizziness; uncoordinated movements; and reddened face are frequently observed. Potential complications related to severe HS are acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, rhabdomyolysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acid-base disorders, and electrolyte disturbances. Long-term neurologic sequelae (varying degrees of irreversible brain injury) occur in approximately 20% of patients. The prognosis is optimal when HS is diagnosed early and management with cooling measures and fluid resuscitation and electrolyte replacement begins promptly. The prognosis is poorest when treatment is delayed >2 hours.

Healthcare organizations must find ways for managing conflict and developing effective working relationships to create healthy work environments. The effects of unresolved conflict on clinical outcomes, staff retention, and the financial health of the organization lead to many unnecessary costs that divert resources from clinical care. The complexity of delivering critical care services makes conflict resolution difficult. Developing collaborative working relationships helps to manage conflict in complex environments. Working relationships are based on the ability to deal with differences. Dealing with differences requires skill development and techniques for balancing interests and communicating effectively. Techniques used by mediators are effective for resolving disputes and developing working relationships. With practice, these techniques are easily transferable to the clinical setting. Listening for understanding, reframing, elevating the definition of the problem, and forming clear agreements can foster working relationships, decrease the level of conflict, and create healthy work environments that benefit patients and professionals.

When asked to put a mental picture to the word nurse, the image people see is often far removed from the image nurses wish to project. Many see nurses as the handmaidens to physicians, wearing white caps and stockings, and surrendering their chairs to physicians. Others see unflattering images from the media. Nursing's tarnished image is partially responsible for a perception of oppression in nursing. Much of nursing's image problem relates to how nurses perceive and use power. Regardless of how nurses perceive power, it is through power that advanced practice nurses (APNs) will be acknowledged as members of a profession versus an occupation. With a better understanding of power, APNs may be able to improve their use of power to advance the profession. This article presents and discusses power through a review of the literature in order to better understand the term as it applies to advanced practice nursing.