This is a 81-year old female patient admitted to Collingswood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center with acute respiratory failure with hypoxemia s/p trach, PEG from Suburban Hospital following a cardiac arrest while undergoing cardiac catherization and pericardiocentesis for pericardial effusion requiring multiple reintubations during her hospital stay.

Nursing Interventions:
Maintain patient safety
Blood sugar monitoring- Insulin
Electrolyte monitoring- evaluated by Physicians frequently
Advance PO diet as tolerated- wean Peg tube as able
Reviewed weekly at: Pulmonary IDT lead Pulmonologist, Dr. John

Respiratory Interventions:
Maintain Adequate Oxygenation- weaned from 50% ATC on admission to room air on DC
Bronchodilation/ Secretion Clearance- Received Routine Nebulizer therapy
Trach Wean- Tolerated capping trials and was trach weaned within 8 weeks of her stay

Therapy
Upon admission, the patient was bedbound requiring assistance with bed mobility, transfers, personal hygiene, toileting, and ambulation. The team approach to care including Full time Respiratory Therapy on site, allowed patient to participate in in Occupational, Physical and Speech therapy 5 times a week to achieve her goals. Upon discharge, patient was able to ambulate with supervision, eat independently, and ambulate with very minimal assistance.
Patient expressed her gratitude for the staff and could not wait to return home to her family.
“I had a great stay here. Thank you everyone that helped me during my stay”!
She was successfully trach weaned to RA, Diet was advanced and PEG feedings were discontinued. Patient was discharged safely to home with Family.