Advanced cancer is one of the most devastating conditions patients, and their families can go through. It is a moment when weighty and sound decisions have to be made. Being 49 years old, advanced cancer patient, and now suffering cardiac arrest presents a distressing condition for the family. Markedly, specific health assessment information to enhance the diagnosis of the patient and an evidence-based response is necessary.
First, I will seek to know the kind of chemotherapy drugs that the 49-year-old patient has been using. Some chemotherapy drugs are known to react severely with other medications causing extreme healthcare conditions in patients. This will determine the kind of drugs to be used on the patient. I will determine this by looking at the patient's medical records. Besides, this will help me ascertain a possible cause of the condition (Chang et al., 2017). Notably, some chemotherapy drugs cause heart complications such as cardiac arrest.
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Secondly, I will seek to know the patient's innermost wishes. In this case, I will apply the patient directive, which is particularly necessary when a patient is in critical condition and not able to talk (American Cancer Society, 2016). Thirdly, I will try to establish the medical condition of the patient before the cardiac arrest. In this case, a conversation with her husband and children will be essential. Therefore, the type of therapy drugs used by the patient, her wishes through the advance directive, and medical condition before the attack will enhance my diagnostic procedure on the patient.
After gathering vital healthcare assessment information, I will put the patient an oxygen machine. Although there is a notion that this can cause acidosis, hypercarbia, and death, oxygen prevents organ failure (Siemieniuk et al., 2018). In this case, they can have a chance of living longer. This step will relieve emotional distress in the husband and children. Other medical procedures can be contacted after this evidence-based measure has been taken.
Conclusively, the cardiac arrest condition affecting the 49-year-old advanced cancer patient needs a weighty and critical decision to be made. Before taking any action, I will seek to determine the type of therapy drugs used by the patient, her wishes through the advance directive, and medical condition before the attack. After that, I will put on oxygen to prevent organ failure and start other therapeutic procedures.
References
American Cancer Society. (2016). Advance directives. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002016-pdf.pdf
Siemieniuk, R. A. C., Chu, D. K., Kim, L. H.-Y., Güell-Rous, M.-R., Alhazzani, W., Social, P. M., … Guyatt, G. H. (2018). Oxygen therapy for acutely ill medical patients : a clinical practice guideline.
Chang, H. M., Okwuosa, T. M., Scarabelli, T., Moudgil, R., & Yeh, E. (2017). Cardiovascular Complications of Cancer Therapy: Best Practices in Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management: Part 2. Journal of the American College of Cardiology , 70 (20), 2552–2565.