Sarah Reed
Dr. Cabone
August 4, 2020
A&P II
Exam 2
Based on the ECG shown, it is indicated that the patient has a prolonged PR interval.
The PR interval normally is 0.12-0.20 seconds long. Since it prolonged this means
that the patient is experiencing first-degree heart block. The heart is conducting slower than
usual so administration of IV fluids can help increase the patient’s heart rate as well as their
blood pressure. This should increase the conduction of the heart and help make it pump
adequately. Although there is no treatment for this, the patient should be monitored continuously
on a cardiac monitor. While monitoring the patient, if the PR interval begins to increase even
more than before, medication should be considered to keep the patient stable. When presenting
this case to the attending physician, I would state that the patient came into the hospital
because they were having trouble breathing, felt weak, dizzy, and had chest pains. After running
an ECG, the strip showed a prolonged PR interval which indicated that the patient's electrical
impulses are moving at a slower pace which matches the patient's symptoms of feeling dizzy
and lightheaded. When speaking to the patient’s family members, I would inform them that Firstdegree heart block is not normal but it can be managed. The patient will need to be continuously
monitored so that if something abnormal occurs, it can be managed right away. If the patient’s
blood pressure begins to rise, I would recommend the medication class of an ACE Inhibitor.
This type of medication is used for the management of heart failure and high blood pressure. It
works by causing relaxation of the veins and arteries, it also prevents the narrowing of the blood
vessels, therefore decreasing to workload on
the heart. I would be cautious around medications that are antiarrhythmic because
they tend to decrease the rate of the heart. After 12 hours of the medication, the ECG
shows the heart rate has slowed down. I would stop the medication and start the
patient on atropine to increase their heart rate back to a normal rate. While giving
the medication I would continue to monitor the patient.
When a patient is in hypovolemic shock the body systems work ways that they usually do not.
The goal of the body is to keep the main organs perfused such as the heart and the brain. As
for the respiratory system, the body is more of an acidotic phase, which causes the patient to
have shallow yet rapid breathing patterns. During hypovolemic shock the renal systems will
produce little to no urine. This is due to the change in flow. There will also be changes in the
nervous system too. These changes/symptoms include confusion, tingly sensation (paresthesia)
and, loss of consciousness and weakness. This is all due to the lack of blood flow. The
cardiovascular system changes as well in many different ways. The patient’s blood flow will be
diverted to the main organs, which causes the patient to have a faint pulse, and very low blood
pressure. They may even present with blue lips, and dusty fingernails due to lack of blood flow.
All of the different body systems work dependently and indecently from one another. In order
for all of the organs to function properly in the body, they all depend on having an adequate flow
of blood. When the blood flow is changed or not functioning properly, the body reacts and
makes sure the main organs are perfused first. It is quite amazing that the body knows that the
brain and heart need proper blood flow over other organs such as the gallbladder. This is where
the organs work independently from one another. The body places the blood flow where it is
needed the most to keep us alive during an event like hypovolemic shock.
The lymphatic system and the vascular system have many similarities and differences.
The lymphatic system is used to return interstitial fluid and leaked plasma proteins that leaked
from blood vessels, back to the blood. The venous system is different from the lymphatic system
because the venous system refers to the veins that move and drain the blood throughout the
body. Anatomically, these systems are the same because they both refer to the transport of
essential things in the body such as blood and plasma. They are different because the
lymphatic system is attempting to keep the body healthy by fixing flaws in the body with
escaped plasma. The venous system is moving the blood in order to keep the organs moving
and alive. A disease associated with the venous system is high blood pressure. High blood
pressure is when there is long term force of blood against the artery walls in the body. And a
disease directly related to the lymphatic system is lymphedema. Lymphedema is when anything
prevents the normal flow of lymph to blood as stated in the powerpoint presentation. This can
cause major swelling in the lymph nodes.