Management Of patients with structural, infectious and inflammatory cardiac disorders

1a. What risk factors predisposed Ms. Waters to develop infective endocarditis?

The patient predisposes herself to the infection through the nose piercing. Piercings are one of the main causes of ineffective endocarditis.

 1b. Explain the pathophysiology of infective endocarditis as it relates to this case

Ineffective endocarditis is an infection that mainly affects and causes damage to the lining of the heart. The main cause of this infection is due to bacteria or fungi that enter the body and spread through the bloodstream. The main cause of infection in the case study is a bacterial infection from the tongue piercing.

1c. What additional clinical manifestations should the nurse include in the assessment of the patient?

Additional symptoms of the infection include high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, and muscle and joint aches.

1d. What medical management should the nurse anticipate for the patient?

Ineffective carditis is a complication that can affect an individual with an infected piercing. The patient displays the complication after getting a tongue and nose piercing. Tongue piercings are more likely to cause the infection.

1e. What nursing management should be provided for the patient and family?

Treatment of this type of infection is most successful with antibiotics. Excessive damage to the heart lining requires surgical intervention.

 2a. On this visit, Mrs. Robbins states that she has difficulty sleeping and has episodes of chest pain. How does the nurse correlate these clinical manifestations to aortic stenosis?

One of the main symptoms of aortic stenosis is shortness of breath after physical activities. This infection causes the heart’s aortic valve to narrow, making it difficult to pump blood to other parts of the body due to increased pressure. The shortness of breath is due to increased that makes blood back up into the lungs.

2b. The nurse assesses Mrs. Robbins for what heart sounds are consistent with aortic stenosis?

Aortic stenosis causes abnormal sounds in the heart known as midsystolic ejection murmurs, which can be heard through a stethoscope.

c. What is the rationale for prophylactic antibiotics before invasive procedures for the patient with aortic stenosis?

The illness predisposes patients to higher risks of infections like ineffective infections. Prophylactic antibiotics assist in minimizing any risk of endocarditis.