Hypotension in a Patient With Heart Failure

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse after the patient had sudden acute shortness of breath and severe chest pain. On prompt arrival of the rapid response team, the patient’s telemetry showed tachycardia with a regular rhythm. Chart review showed a 70-year-old male with a known history of coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass grafting in the past, peripheral vascular…

Bradycardia in a Patient With Heart Failure

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for a patient with a heart rate of 44 beats per min (bpm) on the telemonitor. On prompt arrival of the rapid response team, it was noted that the patient was a 64-year-old male with comorbidities of chronic systolic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and osteoarthritis, who was admitted three days ago for severe gastroenteritis…

Bradycardia in a Patient With Myocardial Infarction

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for a patient with new-onset fatigue, lightheadedness, and substernal pain at rest. On prompt arrival of the rapid response team, the patient’s telemetry showed that he was gradually getting bradycardic to 50-60 beats per min (bpm). He was a 70-year-old male with a known history of coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and…

Bradycardia in a Patient With Atrial Fibrillation

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for new-onset hypotension and bradycardia. On prompt arrival of the rapid response team, it was noted that the patient was a 65-year-old male with a known history of atrial fibrillation treated with oral metoprolol, who was admitted to the hospital two days before for evaluation and management of uncontrolled tachycardia. The patient had been…

Tachycardia and Hypotension in a Patient on Anticoagulation

Case Study A rapid response code was activated for a patient who developed decreased responsiveness along with tachycardia and hypotension. On arrival of the condition team, the patient was lying in bed, minimally responsive to painful stimuli. The patient was a 72-year-old female with a history of diabetes and coronary artery disease who was admitted to the hospital one day prior with unstable angina and was…

Tachycardia in a Patient with Severe Pain

Case Study A rapid response code was activated for a patient who developed persistent tachycardia on continuous telemetry. Upon the arrival of the condition team, the patient was noted to be a 60-year-old male with a past medical history of peptic ulcer disease and alcohol use, admitted two days prior for severe abdominal pain. The patient had undergone an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) a few hours before when…

Tachycardia in a Patient With Alcohol Withdrawal

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for a patient who developed persistent tachycardia on telemetry. On arrival of the rapid response team, the patient was lying in bed, diaphoretic and uncomfortable. The patient was a 32-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse, admitted to the hospital three days prior requesting alcohol detox. The patient was on a phenobarbital taper…

Tachycardia in a Patient With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for a patient who had sudden onset palpitations, followed by a pre-syncope event as the patient was walking to the restroom. Upon prompt arrival of the rapid response team, it was noted that the patient was a 45-year-old male with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and substance use disorder who was admitted earlier in…

Tachycardia in a Patient with Atrial Fibrillation

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for sudden onset palpitations. Upon the prompt arrival of the rapid response team, the patient was found to be a 56-year-old male with a known history of hemorrhagic stroke status post tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) a month prior with residual right-sided neurological deficits and tobacco abuse disorder. The patient was admitted to the hospital…

Chest Pain in a Patient With Hypertensive Emergency

Case Study A rapid response event was initiated by the bedside nurse for new-onset, severe chest pain. Upon prompt arrival of the rapid response team, it was found that the patient was a 47-year-old male with a known history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and substance abuse. He was admitted a few hours earlier for altered mental status and bizarre behavior, and a urine toxicology screen…