Cardiomyopathy and Chronic Heart Failure in Elderly Male Patient - Essay Example

Compliance is crucial for the patient since it results in increased clinical stability and enhanced patient outcomes. In addition, active care will mean routine patient evaluation of circulatory status with exercise and at rest. From the active multidisciplinary approach, Mr. P will reduce hospitalization incidents that result in increased hospital costs that have ended up depressing his wife. Since Mr. P demonstrates some degree of clinical instability, further medical therapy is required following evidence-based guidelines.

Treatment plan

            Through active care clinic visits, Mr. P’s condition is manageable through the use of antidiuretics and fluid sodium restrictions with the therapeutical intention of treating edema and restoration of the extracellular fluid compartment to normal (Cooper, 2011, p. 21). Proper management of Mr. P’s edema will contribute greatly to eliminating shortness of breath or labored breathing. In addition, the use of antidiuretics will promote Mr. P’s response to drugs like ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers that are approved for managing patients with cardiomyopathy that results in systolic dysfunction of the heart’s left ventricle. However, patients demonstrating intolerance to ACE drugs require additional Isosorbide dinitrate and Hydralazine hydrochloride or Angiotensin II receptor blockade (Costantini, Boyd, Huck, Carlson, & Buchers, 2001, p. 178)

Patient education

Daily weight checks are essential in ensuring that Mr. P does not have any weight changes due to fluid retention which is also reflected in shortness of breath and moist crackles on the lungs.  The best way to identify weight gain will be to know Mr. P’s dry weight or weight taken in the absence of edema. Mr. P will be trained on how to calculate his weight gain by subtracting his presently measured weight from the dry weight. (Costantini, Boyd, Huck, Carlson, & Buchers, 2001). Since he is managing edema, the resulting difference is expected to decrease with the right patient compliance. For both Mr. P and his wife, education and counseling with regards to the best diet alterations will assist in adherence to the right diet and facilitate monitoring during active care management visits. Nutrition counseling on Mr. P’s 4+ pitting edema requires regulating sodium intake from food or medication so as to reduce body sodium content and consequently minimize total body water (Glady, et al., 2000).

Teaching plan

            For Mr. P and his wife, the teaching plan components recommended by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, (2010) include

• Information about Cardiomyopathy and CHF disease signs and symptoms
• Information on ACE inhibitors and Beta-blockers and drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs except aspirin due to fluid retention side effects.
• Information on food nutrition restrictions like sodium and portions
• Self-care information detailing daily weight measurements, lifestyle, support, and diuretic intake.
• Exercise recommendations
• Referral to support groups for social support