Nursing Interventions: Cor Pulmonale

1. Listen to the patient’s fears and concerns about his illness.
2. Plan a nutritious diet carefully with the patient and the staff dietitian.
3. Prevent fluid retention by limiting the patient’s fluid intake to 1,000 to 2,000 ml daily and providing a low sodium diet.
4. Reposition the bed ridden patient often to prevent atelectasis.
5. Provide meticulous respiratory care, including oxygen therapy and for COPD patients.
6. Pace patient care activities to avoid patient fatigue.
7. Monitor serum potassium levels closely if the patient takes a diuretic.
8. Be alert for complaints that signal digoxin toxicity, such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and seeing a yellow halo around an object.
9. Measure ABG levels and watch for signs of respiratory failure as change in pulse rate, deep labored respirations; and increased fatigue produced by exertion.
10. Instruct the patient to schedule frequent rest periods and to perform his breathing exercises regularly.