A client with hypertensive emergency is admitted to the intensive care unit with a blood pressure of . The healthcare provider prescribes a continuous intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside. Forty-eight hours later, the nurse notes that the client has become severely agitated and disoriented, with a respiratory rate of . An arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis reveals a pH of , a of , and an of . Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
- Stop the nitroprusside infusion and prepare to administer intravenous sodium thiosulfate.Cevap
- BDecrease the nitroprusside infusion rate by half and reassess the client in 15 minutes.
- CAdminister a prescribed PRN dose of intravenous lorazepam for the client's agitation.
- DInitiate continuous oxygen therapy via a non-rebreather mask to manage the tachypnea.
Cevap
Stop the nitroprusside infusion and prepare to administer intravenous sodium thiosulfate.
Sodium nitroprusside metabolism produces cyanide. Prolonged infusions, high doses, or renal and hepatic impairment can lead to life-threatening cyanide toxicity. The clinical presentation of severe agitation, disorientation, and uncompensated or partially compensated metabolic acidosis (low pH, low bicarbonate) with compensatory tachypnea (low PaCO2) strongly indicates cyanide toxicity. The priority nursing action is to immediately stop the offending agent and administer an antidote, such as sodium thiosulfate, to facilitate cyanide excretion.
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Anahtar Kavram
Sodium nitroprusside metabolism produces cyanide. Prolonged infusions, high doses, or renal/hepatic impairment can lead to life-threatening cyanide toxicity, manifesting as altered mental status and severe metabolic acidosis, which requires immediate discontinuation of the drug and administration of an antidote.