Red Flags
This vital sign change is often the first indicator of decreased cardiac output in post-op cardiac patients.
What is tachycardia?
For most post-op cardiac patients, this is the primary overall goal of care.
What is optimize cardiac output?
A difference greater than 10% between pre- and post-ductal saturations is considered this.
What is significant (and may change plan of care)?
This IV medication supports contractility by improving inotropy and afterload reduction.
What is milrinone (and possibly low-dose epinephrine)?
Prevention of this type of crisis is critical for patients with pulmonary hypertension.
What is a pulmonary hypertensive crisis?
A drop in this cerebral monitoring value by more than 10 points is considered significant.
What is a drop in NIRS greater than 10 points?
For patients with ductal-dependent circulation, maintaining this medication is essential to preserve perfusion.
What is prostaglandin (PGE) infusion?
Excess oxygen in ductal-dependent circulation can cause this adverse effect on systemic perfusion.
What is pulmonary over-circulation and decreased systemic perfusion?
In single-ventricle patients, too little systemic flow leads to this metabolic consequence.
What is metabolic or lactic acidosis?
Three triggers for pulmonary hypertensive crisis are acidosis, hypoxia, and this elevated blood gas state.
What is hypercapnia (elevated CO₂)?
This change in urine output signals early decreased renal perfusion.
What is decreased urine output (<1 mL/kg/hr)?
For single-ventricle physiology, the main goal is to balance this ratio between these two.
What is Qp:Qs balance (pulmonary : systemic flow)?
Monitoring these two types of blood pressures (upper and lower) helps identify flow gradients.
What are upper and lower extremity blood pressures?
A rising CVP and decreasing urine output suggest this type of cardiac problem.
What is ventricular dysfunction or poor contractility?
During an event, this gas therapy can help decrease pulmonary vascular resistance.
What is inhaled nitric oxide (iNO)?