SionainnRN 914 Posts Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU. Has 5 years experience. Sep 28, 2014 Can we get some more info? Did they have a cath, are they on narcs, why wouldn't they be on colace? There is not enough info to answer the question. Is this for school?
Long Term Care Columnist / Guide VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN 142 Articles; 9,981 Posts Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych. Has 26 years experience. Sep 28, 2014 Riddle me this: would you want your patient straining at stool after a cardiac event? Why or why not?
Cricket183, BSN, RN 1 Article; 237 Posts Specializes in Oncology (OCN). Has 20 years experience. Sep 28, 2014 Cardiology is not my specialty (oncology is) but I seem to remember back in the recesses of my brain that it is given so that patients avoid straining while having a bowel movement--vasovagal response. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
kfitzy89 52 Posts Sep 28, 2014 They can be a few reasons, but more as a general response is probably because the post MI patient is on a plethora of hypotensives, and straining their stool would cause a vagal response, thus instantly decreasing their blood pressure which can cause most people to faint, which equals injury.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN 5,047 Posts Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro. Has 16 years experience. Sep 28, 2014 Anti-hypertensive meds + narcotic pain relievers + less than normal mobility (we generally walk more than one hall length TID or whatever it is in the hospital) + possible PO fluid restrictions = hard stool + don't want them to strain
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN 4 Articles; 20,908 Posts Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma. Has 43 years experience. Sep 28, 2014 Vagus nerve activation widens blood vessels, reducing the return of blood to the heart, and slows the heart rate. Straining during bowel movements or urination or coughing increases chest pressure. Increased chest pressure can activate the vagus nerve and also reduce the return of blood to the heart.How would this affect a new MI?
