Nursing in critical care
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Nursing in critical care · Nov 2006
ReviewIntra-aortic balloon counterpulsation complicated by limb ischaemia: a reflective commentary.
Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) is widely used to support the failing myocardium, particularly in patients with a background of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). CS is primarily due to left ventricular failure and is the most serious complication of AMI. Using Driscoll's 'What?' reflective model to guide critical thinking, an incident involving a patient who required IABC following AMI is explored. ⋯ Nurses and health care professionals who have the responsibility of caring for these patients need to be adequately trained in order to maintain a high standard of care. However, there appears to be a lack of evidence-based guidelines determining the optimum frequency of limb observations to assess for limb ischaemia. Further evidence as to the timing of limb observations is required in order that protocols can be written to guide the practice.