[ccrnjen]

I would like to know what everyone does with post-op carotid endartectomy patients. Do they always go to an ICU? Only the ones with high blood pressure? How long are their hospital stays? What about carotid artery stenting (done in radiology)? Are these patients treated any differently (aside from routine post-arteriogram care) than the standard OR carotids?

Thanks for the info!

[Marie_LPN]

Our carotids always go to the ICU.

[CritterLover]

Ours, too. Maybe only for 24 hours, but definatly to ICU post op.

[JiffyGriff]

Our post-op carotids always go to ICU, and for good reason, I saw one have to get trached one night because they coded and couldn't be tubed.

[Marie_LPN]

Originally Posted by JiffyGriff

Our post-op carotids always go to ICU, and for good reason, I saw one have to get trached one night because they coded and couldn't be tubed.

Seen that happen as well, when the pt. had internal bleeding, and it was discovered when the flatline alarm sounded on the monitor, and the pt's neck was puffed out.

[gizelda]

we always get the cea's (ICU)

[JenSICU_CCRN]

SICU nurse here, and we always get the CEA's even if for only 24 hours. They need intensive monitoring and ICU nurse eyes for at least 24 hours post-op. The med-surg floors are just too busy and with too large of a pt. load. A good watchful eye for hematoma, edema, reperfusion stroke, hypertension, etc.

HTH,
Jenny