A patient is admitted to the critical care unit following coronary artery bypass surgery.Two hours postoperatively,the nurse assesses the following information: pulse is 120 beats/min; blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg; pulmonary artery diastolic pressure is 2 mm Hg; cardiac output is 4 L/min; urine output is 250 mL/hr; chest drainage is 200 mL/hr.What is the best interpretation by the nurse?
A) The assessed values are within normal limits.
B) The patient is at risk for developing cardiogenic shock.
C) The patient is at risk for developing fluid volume overload.
D) The patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vital signs and hemodynamic values assessed collectively include classic signs and symptoms of hypovolemia.Both urine output and chest drainage values are high,contributing to the hypovolemia.Assessed values are not within normal limits.
A cardiac output of 4 L/min is not indicative of cardiogenic shock.The patient is at risk for hypovolemia,not volume overload,as evidenced by excessive hourly chest drainage and urine output.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Critical Care Unit Following