Cardiac Surgery (Post-ICU Care) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Master
To Master a topic you must score > 80% on the lesson quiz.
Included In This Lesson
Outline
Cardiac Surgery (Post-ICU Care)
Definition/Etiology:
- CABG
- Addresses Perfusion (Hose) Problem that cannot be fixed with a stent = CABG
- No water = No garden
- Reroutes hose around the blockage
- Perfusion restored
- Bypass surgery of clogged hose
- 3-6 hours
- Addresses Perfusion (Hose) Problem that cannot be fixed with a stent = CABG
- CABG indications
- Non-Emergent/Planned (before MI)
- Left Coronary Artery “Left Main disease”
- Emergent/Not Planned (after MI)
- NSTEMI/STEMI = does not respond to interventions
- Both have same plan of care (Emergent more fragile)
- Non-Emergent/Planned (before MI)
- Surgery → CVSICU → POD#2
- Step Down (PCCN Care)
Pathophysiology:
- Vessels Harvested
- Happens before & during surgery
- Arteries & Large veins
- Internal Mammary Artery
- Either side of sternum
- Radial Artery
- Inner forearm
- Saphenous Vein
- leg/calf
- Internal Mammary Artery
- Sternotomy “Crack the Chest”
- Bypass Machine
- Heart Stops: High KCL Solution/Ice
- Perfusionist: Mechanical Heart/Lungs
- 2 Tubes inserted into heart = circulation
- Pumps blood & adds 02
- Surgeon attaches bypass grafts
Noticing: Assessment & Recognizing Cues:
- Subjective Cues
- #1 Concern = Chest pain
- PQRST
- #1 Concern = Chest pain
- Objective Cues
- Concern = ↓ Cardiac Output (must have a good perfusion/open hose)
- Vital Trend
- Q 2- 4 hours in PCU
- Hypotension/Tachycardia/MAP >65
- Temp >36.0 and <38.5
- Temp >36.0 and <38.5
- Pulses
- Q 2- 4 hours in PCU
- Heart/Lung sounds
- S3/crackles/rales = heart failure
- Muffled heart sounds = Cardiac tamponade
- Skin
- Temperature & color
- Sternotomy & Harvest site dressings
- Temp Pacer
- Tubes/Drains
- Chest tube= > 70cc/hr & slow decrease
- Foley =<30ml/h for 2 hours (DC?)
Interpreting: Analyzing & Planning:
- Labs
- CBC (H/H)
- Hemorrhage not obvious – Transfusion
- Electrolytes
- Replace KCL/MAG/Calcium
- Blood Gasses
- Poor Gas Exchange symptoms only
- CBC (H/H)
- ECG/Telemetry
- Q Waves – Signs of scar tissue. Common.
- Bradyarrhythmias
- Temp Pacer
- Atrial Tachyarrhythmias
- Afib/Aflutter/SVT
- AFIB =most common = Rate Control
- Afib/Aflutter/SVT
- Ventricular Tachycardias
- VT and Vfib (rare) = ACLS algorithm
Responding: Patient Interventions & Taking Action:
- Lab & ECG Telemetry Interventions
- Pharmacological Interventions
- Pain management PRN
- IV → PO
- Electrolyte replacement IVPB
- Fluid Replacement
- Albumin for low MAP
- Blood Transfusions
- Low Blood Count
- Vasoactive Infusions – emergent only → ICU
- Pain management PRN
- Non-Pharmacological
- Incentive Spirometry
- Q1 hour while awake
- Cough & Deep breath
- Incision Care/Tube Care
- Incentive Spirometry
- Adjunct Medical Therapy
- Rehabilitation Services: PT/OT
- EARLY MOBILITY
- Rehabilitation Services: PT/OT
Reflecting: Evaluating Patient Outcomes:
- Pain Free
- Sign of good perfusion
- Labs/ECG/Telemetry
- Baseline
- Vital Signs
- Heart Lung sounds
- Kidney Output
- Skin/Tubes/Drains
- Incision Care
- Sternotomy
- Harvest Sites
- Epicardial Pacing wires
- Chest tube
- Output reducing
- Foley
- Get D/C’d ASAP
- Incision Care
Linchpins (Key Points):
- Notice
- Symptoms of decreased perfusion
- Interpret
- ECG/Labs
- Respond
- ACLS & PRN Order Sets
- Reflect
- ABCs
- Perfusion/Hemodynamically stable first
Transcript
References
- Al-Ghamdi, B. (2017). Arrhythmias Post Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. In (Ed.), Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70423
- Chaudhari, J. M., Pani, S., Mhaske, A., & Mulay, A. (2022). Effect of nursing care by using Extended Nursing Care Model on quality of life of patients after coronary artery bypass graft. MGM Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(1), 48.
- Farooq, N. U. A., & John, S. (2022). Evaluation of the Parameters Influencing Nurses’ Effectiveness in the Treatment of Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in ICU. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 16(02), 1072-1072.
- Shea MJ. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disor ders/cardiovascular-tests-and-procedures/coronary-artery-bypas s-grafting-cabg January 31, 2016. Accessed: April 9, 2017.
Adaptive Brain SIMCLEX Study Plan – 1 Nov 2025
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiac Disorders
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Communication
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Basics of NCLEX
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Urinary Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Shock
Study Plan Lessons
Cardiac Labs – What and When to Use Them 2 – Live Tutoring Archive
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Nursing Care Plan for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Patient Status Communication for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Patient Communication Techniques for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Conflict Management (Patient, Perioperative Team, Family) for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Caring Practices for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drug Withdrawal) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Substance Abuse (Chronic Alcohol Abuse, Chronic Drug Abuse) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Substance Abuse (Drug-Seeking Behavior) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Healthcare-Acquired Infections: Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CAUTI) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Cardiac/Vascular Catheterization (Diagnostic, Interventional) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Cardiac Surgery (Post-ICU Care) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Bleeding for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Hypovolemic and Distributive Shock for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)