Case history
This is the start of your evening shift. Paul Caron, 66 years old, returned to the orthopaedic unit from the OR at 15:00 following a right total knee arthroplasty. He has past medical history of hypertension and atrial fibrillation. His vital signs have been taken q15 minutes for the last hour.
The nurse leaving his shift gave you the following information:
- BP has been decreasing with each q15 minute set of vital signs, last one was 90/60
- Pulse has been increasing with each set, last pulse was 110
- T 36.1°C
- RR 26
- Oxygen saturation 96% on room air
- Pain 5/10
- Dressing has moderate amount of sanguineous discharge
- The Jackson-Pratt drain has been emptied of 150 ml of bright red blood