What are several clues that tell Sam how long his grandfather has been in the chair? Why is that important?
When Sam entered the house, he found his grandfather sitting on a chair with medicines and a glass on his wet lap. This situation gave him a hint that his grandfather might have fallen due to a loss of coordination and balance. Second condition Sam witnessed of his grandfather was him leaning to the right which alarmed Sam that his grandfather might have a stroke as people with stroke usually have problems with any of their arms. Routine mourning medicines also hinted at the severity of the condition that the grandfather might have experienced the stroke in the morning. All those clues were important to alarm Sam that his grandfather had signs of stroke so he called the EMS team.
List key assessment questions Sam could anticipate being asked by the ER team. What do they need to know first?
Sam might be asked about the position of the arms, the level of his grandfather’s consciousness when Sam first saw him, how was he breathing, the question about his gaze, or whether he was having difficulty understanding Sam’s speech in case he was conscious. The EMS team needed to know first about the numbness on one part of his grandfather’s body, his vision, loss of balance, and his response to Sam’s speech.
What diagnostic tests and labs would be needed first to confirm the type and location of his grandfather’s stroke?
The EMS team would conduct an MRI of the grandfather’s head because he was in an unconscious state and was not able to tell exactly what he felt or experiencing after having a stroke. Initial assessments in the acute phase of the stroke that the EMS team conducted were blood pressure measurement, temperature, hydration status, oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm within the first three hours (Banasik, 2021).
What treatments might be recommended to help his grandfather during this acute stage?
The EMS team took important measures to save grandfather from brain damage. He was administered drugs such as TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) and Aspirin to break down or dissolve clots (Banasik, 2021). Due to his age factor, he was recommended angioplasty to prevent the artery from narrowing again.
What spiritual and educational support might Sam need from the healthcare team?
The EMS team recommended angioplasty to Sam’s grandfather, and he was given education regarding the procedure. The surgeon told Sam that the procedure involves inflating a small balloon using a catheter to remove a clot inside a narrowed coronary artery. Then, surgeons would insert a stent into the opening (Banasik, 2021).
References
Banasik, J. L. (2021). Pathophysiology. (7th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. US.
