Do any nurses out there use an elevated diastolic pressure as a sign of fluid overload? I know that's not your only tool to assess but I was wondering who else might use that as a sign. I had a NP mention that to me when I was notifying her of an elevated b/p and it didn't really dawn on me to use that as an indicator. Maybe I'm a bit slower than the rest. :) So don't rip me too bad here.
Trauma Columnist traumaRUs, MSN, APRN 165 Articles; 21,214 Posts Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU. Has 31 years experience. Jan 11, 2012 I'm an APN and yes I do use BP as an indicator of fluid overload. When you remember that fluid overload causes CHF which increased the right ventricular filling pressure, it makes sense that the pts BP goes up. Discovery Health "How Fluid Overload and Edema Work"Here's another article from the US Dept of Health and Human Services:High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease - National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
rogue_maverick 167 Posts Specializes in Nephrology-Dialysis/Surgery/Orthopaedics. Has 4 years experience. Jan 11, 2012 Do any nurses out there use an elevated diastolic pressure as a sign of fluid overload? I know that's not your only tool to assess but I was wondering who else might use that as a sign. I had a NP mention that to me when I was notifying her of an elevated b/p and it didn't really dawn on me to use that as an indicator. Maybe I'm a bit slower than the rest. :) So don't rip me too bad here. Yes a diastolic BP > 100 mmhg is not something to be ignored especially when edema is present. I always use it to challenge UF goals set which I think is too low and the patient needs SEQ or extra treatments.
