Case study information:You are dispatched to a 39-year-old female patient who is complaining of shortness of breath, lightheadedness and a very fast heartbeat. She explains to you that she was...

Physiology case study





Case study information: You are dispatched to a 39-year-old female patient who is complaining of shortness of breath, light headedness and a very fast heartbeat. She explains to you that she was woken up by palpitations and slight chest discomfort. You transport her to the hospital and the doctor assesses her, does an ECG and states she is experiencing a ventricular tachycardia. The hospital monitor has the following vitals on screen: - Heart rate (HR): 187bpm - Respiratory rate (RR): 48bpm - Blood pressure (BP): 86/54 mmHg - Oxygen saturations (SpO2): 84% The patient has a history of hypertension and heart disease. In your discussion answer the following questions by explaining the normal physiological processes that have been disrupted by patient's condition: * How will the extremely fast heart rate affects the stroke volume and cardiac output? «Normal blood pressure should be around 120/80 mmHg with a MAP of 93mmHg. What is the MAP of this patient and why is her blood pressure so low? «Why would her respiratory rate be elevated and her oxygen saturations be so low? «What causes ventricular tachycardia? + What could be the effect of this condition on the venous return? You will need to include: « Definitions applicable to your discussion « Table of Contents «Introduction « Conclusion * References