STANDARDS OF NURSING CARE FOR CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Arrhythmias are common in patients with cardiac disorders, so the main cause of death in cardiac disease is cardiac arrhythmia, as they may reduce pumping efficiency of the myocardium and lead to heart failure. However, certain arrhythmias pose these threats while others can be tolerated without serious consequences (Monahan & Marek, 2003). Cardiac arrhythmias are conduction disturbances that disrupt normal functioning of the heart, and named according to the site of origin as sinus arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmias, atrioventricular block (Av block), or ventricular arrhythmias. Common causes of arrhythmias are acidosis, electrolyte imbalance, early cardiac failure, pain and anxiety (Wright & Shelton, 1999 and Smelter & Bare, 2000). As regard prevalence of coronary artery diseases in Egypt on the duration from (2000--2001), at Ain Shams university Hospital. The number of patients admitted to coronary care unit were (1748), and myocardial infarction ( 120) about 6.9% of patients, (80) about 4.6% of patients have performed percutaneous transluminal coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) ind coronary artery By pass Graft (CBG) surgery (112) about 6.4% of patients.