Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
DISEASE PROFILE
Date: September 24, 2013 Student Name: Ashlie Collins
Medical Diagnosis: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Definition: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. The aorta, about the thickness of a garden hose, runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Because the aorta is the body's main supplier of blood, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding.
Subjective Data: Describes feelings of abdominal and back pain.
Medical Plan of Care: The options for treatment of your aneurysm will depend on a variety of factors, including location of the aneurysm, your age, kidney function and other conditions that may increase your risk of surgery or endovascular repair. If you have a small abdominal aortic aneurysm — about 1.6 inches, or 4 centimeters (cm), in diameter or smaller — and you have no symptoms, your doctor may suggest a watch-and-wait (observation) approach, rather than surgery. If you have an aneurysm that is large (larger than 2.2 inches, or 5.6 cm) or growing rapidly (grows more than 0.5 cm in six months), you'll probably need surgery
Nursing Plan/Treatment: Administer medications as ordered, note any type of side effects.
Teaching Needs: The best approach to prevent an aortic aneurysm is to keep your blood vessels as healthy as possible, which includes to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, keep your blood pressure under control, get regular exercise, and reduce the cholesterol and fat in your diet.
Reference: www.mayoclinic.org/health/abdominalaorticaneurysm
Date: September 24, 2013 Student Name: Ashlie Collins
Medical Diagnosis: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Definition: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. The aorta, about the thickness of a garden hose, runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Because the aorta is the body's main supplier of blood, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding.
Subjective Data: Describes feelings of abdominal and back pain.
Medical Plan of Care: The options for treatment of your aneurysm will depend on a variety of factors, including location of the aneurysm, your age, kidney function and other conditions that may increase your risk of surgery or endovascular repair. If you have a small abdominal aortic aneurysm — about 1.6 inches, or 4 centimeters (cm), in diameter or smaller — and you have no symptoms, your doctor may suggest a watch-and-wait (observation) approach, rather than surgery. If you have an aneurysm that is large (larger than 2.2 inches, or 5.6 cm) or growing rapidly (grows more than 0.5 cm in six months), you'll probably need surgery
Nursing Plan/Treatment: Administer medications as ordered, note any type of side effects.
Teaching Needs: The best approach to prevent an aortic aneurysm is to keep your blood vessels as healthy as possible, which includes to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, keep your blood pressure under control, get regular exercise, and reduce the cholesterol and fat in your diet.
Reference: www.mayoclinic.org/health/abdominalaorticaneurysm