when will we use this chart?

Trauma Columnist · Feb 7, 2007

Clinical pathways are a way to ensure concise and consistent care with patients with the same diagnosis. FOr instance, this one is for TBI patients (traumatic brain-injured patients). They are endorsed by each hospital individually and usually require an MD order to use.

Does that help?

janjanclar · Feb 7, 2007

oh......thanks....:roll

i would like to ask more about the detail in Phase 1 , what is the swan ganz? also, in the medication of phase 1 , what are the open drain and close drain mean?

OkieICU_RN · Feb 19, 2007

Swan-Ganz, also known as a PA catheter, is an invasive monitoring device used to take all kinds of different measurements of cardiac function (giving some indications as to what might be going on with many body systems).

The open and closed drain would be from a ventriculostomy drain, for CSF drainage. If someone has an elevated ICP and the drain is clamped (or closed), one of the first things to do is open the drain to hopefully get rid of some excess fluid (causing increased pressure).

Interesting flow chart. I have never seen a Swan put in for a neuro patient in the early stages of TBI or other neuro insult. Is that routine somewhere??

GrnHonu99, RN · Mar 7, 2007

We normally put a swan in a new admit if they are unstable cardiac wise..p adm we will use swans for triple H therapy.

This clincal pathway looks similar to what we do for pts. Think of the new adm part as your admission orders youd get from the doc. those are virtually the protocol orders we get for every pt.the order sheet is printed up and the docs just check the boxes..GCS less than 5 gets an EVD.