Congestive Heart Failure
Introduction
The heart is like an engine, pumping blood throughout the body. Over time, when this pump cannot distribute enough blood throughout the body to meet its needs, it develops into a condition known as congestive heart failure (CHF). When the right side of the heart fails, the lungs cannot pick up oxygen due to the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to them. In contrast, left sided heart failure is related to the heart’s inability to pump an adequate amount of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Only one side of the heart may be affected, although it is possible for both sides to be involved at the same time.
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the different factors of caring for a patient with CHF.
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This is an invasive procedure and the nurse should make certain that an informed consent that has been signed by the patient is in the chart. During this procedure, a flexible tube is inserted into a blood vessel located in the arm or groin and a dye is then injected that is visible on x-ray (AHA, 2015). If at this point a blockage of any kind is visible, the doctor has the option to place a stent or perform an angioplasty to remove the obstruction. In preparation for the procedure, the patient will not have anything to eat or drink after midnight. The doctor may request that certain medications not be taken the day of the procedure which could include insulin for diabetic patients. During the procedure, the patient will be placed on their back and may be given a mild sedative to stay relaxed because general anesthetics are not typically used (AHA, 2015). If the angiogram was performed using the site in the groin, pressure will be applied and the patient must remain flat on their back, typically for eight hours, varying by facility (AHA, 2015). The nurse should check the site every hour for any bruising or excessive bleeding. After the allotted time to remain flat has passed, the nurse should be present when the patient rises for the first