Raynaud's Phenomenon
Case Study: Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Dr. Smith
Nursing Assessment
HEALTH HISTORY
Maria Jellia
Age: 56 y.o.
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Past history: Smoked 2 packs a day for 22 years (26 pack years), Double mastectomy, Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, carpel tunnel syndrome. Gravida 1-full term no complications.
Current Medical History: 31 PPD, double mastectomy, Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome.
Chief complaint: Pt. complains of paresthesia when exposed to cold and that her fingers and toes turn from white to blue to red sometimes staying blue for hours.
History of present illness on admission: Pt. states… “I love to walk my dogs in the afternoon after teaching piano to the young ones. This has become very hard for me to do. My hands and feet seem to take a life of their own! First, they turn white at the tips of my fingers and toes changing to blue and then back to red. After about 2 hours of this gradual color change back to normal my fingers and toes feel like a thousand needles prickling them. What do I do! I am so worried that I will lose my playing hands and not be able to walk my dogs. I know you medical people have said before I have some type of medical problem that causes this.”
Background information on Raynaud’s
Raynaud’s phenomenon: “Is an idiopathic paroxysmal bilateral cyanosis of the digits due to arterial and arteriolar contraction; caused by cold or emotion.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
“Primary Raynaud's: This is the most common form, there is no apparent cause (idiopathic). It is possible for the primary form to move to the secondary form.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
“Secondary Rayndaud's: Is associated with an underlying disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In extreme cases this form can progress to necrosis or gangrene of the fingertips.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
(Harvard Health Publications, 2009)
Diagnosing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Dr. Smith
Nursing Assessment
HEALTH HISTORY
Maria Jellia
Age: 56 y.o.
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Past history: Smoked 2 packs a day for 22 years (26 pack years), Double mastectomy, Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, carpel tunnel syndrome. Gravida 1-full term no complications.
Current Medical History: 31 PPD, double mastectomy, Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome.
Chief complaint: Pt. complains of paresthesia when exposed to cold and that her fingers and toes turn from white to blue to red sometimes staying blue for hours.
History of present illness on admission: Pt. states… “I love to walk my dogs in the afternoon after teaching piano to the young ones. This has become very hard for me to do. My hands and feet seem to take a life of their own! First, they turn white at the tips of my fingers and toes changing to blue and then back to red. After about 2 hours of this gradual color change back to normal my fingers and toes feel like a thousand needles prickling them. What do I do! I am so worried that I will lose my playing hands and not be able to walk my dogs. I know you medical people have said before I have some type of medical problem that causes this.”
Background information on Raynaud’s
Raynaud’s phenomenon: “Is an idiopathic paroxysmal bilateral cyanosis of the digits due to arterial and arteriolar contraction; caused by cold or emotion.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
“Primary Raynaud's: This is the most common form, there is no apparent cause (idiopathic). It is possible for the primary form to move to the secondary form.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
“Secondary Rayndaud's: Is associated with an underlying disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In extreme cases this form can progress to necrosis or gangrene of the fingertips.” (Medical News Today, 2010)
(Harvard Health Publications, 2009)
Diagnosing