Page 125 - AACN Essentials of Critical-Care Nursing Pocket Handbook, Second Edition

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Treatmen Give pain medication as necessary. Call physician to reposition catheter; Inflate balloon to encourage catheter
Remove catheter. Apply warm compresses. remove loop. flotation out to PA.

Problems Encountered with Pulmonary Artery Catheters
Prepare skin properly before insertion. Use sterile technique during insertion and dressing change. Insert smoothly transducer, stopcocks, and connecting

Prevention and rapidly. Use Teflon-coated introducer. Change IV fluid bag, tubing every 72 hours. Remove catheter or change insertion site. Carefully secure catheter at insertion site; check chest film. Position catheter tip in main right or le

Cause Mechanical irritation or contamination Looping of excess catheter in RA Migration of catheter from PA to RV Irritation of the endocardium during catheter passage

Problem Phlebitis or local infection
at insertion site Ventricular irritability
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