A patient is in the intensive care unit after a myocardial ...

[jlmhmf]

A patient is in the intensive care unit after a myocardial infarction. The nurse notes that the QT interval on this patient's electrocardiogram has been elongating. The nurse is concerned that which cardiac dysrhythmia may occur?
 
  a. AV block
  b. Bradycardia
  c. Supraventricular tachycardia
  d. Torsades de pointes

Question 2

A patient is diagnosed with periodontal disease, and the provider orders oral doxycycline Periostat. The patient asks the purpose of the drug. What is the nurse's response?
 
  a. It is used because of its an-ti-inflammatory effects.
  b. It inhibits collagenase to protect connec-tive tissue in the gums.
  c. It reduces bleeding and the pocket depth of oral lesions.
  d. It suppresses bacterial growth in the oral mucosa.

[aham8f]

Answer to Question 1

D
Torsades de pointes is a dysrhythmia that can occur with prolongation of the QT interval and can progress to fatal ventricular fibrillation. A prolonged QT interval does not signal the development of AV block, bradycardia, or SVT.

Answer to Question 2

B
Two tetracyclines are used for periodontal disease. Doxycycline inhibits collagenase, which de-stroys connective tissue in the gums. It is not used for anti-inflammatory effects. Minocycline is used to reduce bleeding and pocket depth and to inhibit bacterial growth.

[jlmhmf]

TYSM

[gcook]

Excellent