Nursing Interventions to Prevent Complications

Madison, and Irwin (1998) define Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as a sort of umbrella term that refers to a large group of lung diseases which can interfere with normal breathing. In their discussion of the various illnesses that are associated with the condition, COPD Support (2001), notes that there are three basic conditions which COPD patients can suffer from: emphysema (the progressive destruction of the grape-like sacs that exchange oxygen in the air for carbon dioxide); chronic bronchitis; and chronic asthma. Not all patients have all three conditions, although a few do.

In a report issued by the National Institutes of Health (2001), it is estimated that approximately 13.5 million Americans have COPD, and that it is now the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. The National Institutes of Health also state that the most common causes of COPD, while not fully understood, include: smoking, air pollution, occupational exposures (especially if combined with cigarette smoking) and heredity.

Symptoms of COPD are said to include: shortness of breath; cough and sputum (occurring for many years before the development of shortness of breath; frequent respiratory infections: cyanosis, abnormal lung songs, swelling of the feet and heart failure (National Institutes of Health, 2001). The most common COPD patient is an older male who smokes and who suffers

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ould be selected. A key question that can be asked here is: What are the major nursing interventions recommended for preventing complications in COPD patients? Clearly, one post-operative complication that should be prevented is the possibility of acute exacerbations of patients' conditions which can lead to respiratory deterioration. According to Madison and Irwin (1998), there are several interventions which will reduce the risk of acute exacerbations following surgery as well as just generally reduce the risk of any complications arising that are related to COPD. It is recommended that all of the suggested interventions by undertaken as part of an intensive and dependent management processes in which nurses essentially work under doctors and follow their orders. These interventions include: (1) Chest physiotherapy (CPT) which is a means of clearing the lungs of accumulated mucus. It uses gravity and physical therapy to help move the secretions out of the lungs and stimulate coughing. Commonly, CPT involves clapping with the cupped hand on the chest wall, the use of vibration (accomplished either with the hand or with mechanical vibrators), deep breathing exercises, and exercises related to helping the patient accomplish
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2265
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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