A nurse is evaluating the plan of care during a postoperative visit for a client who had a retinal reattachment procedure. Which of the following statements indicates the client is following the instructions in the plan of care?

A. "Your heart condition is caused by excessive stretching of the ventricles": Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by the dilation or enlargement of the heart's chambers, particularly the ventricles. This dilation results in weakened myocardial contraction and impaired systolic function. The primary cause of DCM is often idiopathic (unknown), but it can also be secondary to various factors such as genetics, infections, toxins, or systemic diseases. The statement correctly identifies the pathophysiological basis of DCM as excessive stretching or dilation of the ventricles, leading to impaired cardiac function.

B. "Your heart condition is caused when the ventricular tissue becomes fibrous and fatty": This statement is incorrect. Fibrous and fatty changes in ventricular tissue are characteristic of another type of cardiomyopathy known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), not dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In DCM, the primary abnormality is dilation of the heart chambers rather than fibrous and fatty changes in the myocardium.

C. "Your heart condition is caused from stiffening of the walls of the ventricles": This statement describes restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), not dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In restrictive cardiomyopathy, the ventricular walls become stiff and rigid, impairing diastolic filling and ventricular relaxation. However, in DCM, the primary abnormality is dilation or enlargement of the ventricles rather than stiffening of the ventricular walls.

D. "Your heart condition is caused by thickening of the ventricular walls and septum": This statement describes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), not dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In HCM, there is abnormal thickening of the ventricular walls and septum, leading to reduced chamber size and impaired diastolic filling. However, in DCM, the primary abnormality is dilation or enlargement of the ventricles rather than thickening of the ventricular walls.

A. Colchicine:

Colchicine is commonly used in the treatment of pericarditis, especially in cases of recurrent or refractory pericarditis.

It helps reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms by inhibiting the migration of neutrophils to the inflamed pericardium.

Colchicine is often used in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids for the management of pericarditis.

B. Acetaminophen:

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly used to manage mild to moderate pain associated with various conditions, including pericarditis.

While acetaminophen may provide symptomatic relief, it is not typically considered a primary treatment for pericarditis, especially in cases of severe or recurrent pericarditis.

C. Indomethacin:

Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with pericarditis.

NSAIDs are often used as first-line therapy for acute pericarditis to alleviate symptoms such as chest pain and fever.

However, caution should be exercised when using NSAIDs in certain populations, such as older adults or those with preexisting gastrointestinal or renal conditions.

D. Amiodarone:

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication used to treat various types of arrhythmias, including ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation.

While pericarditis may lead to certain arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, amiodarone is not a first-line treatment for pericarditis itself.

However, it may be used in cases where pericarditis is complicated by arrhythmias or concomitant cardiac conditions.

E. Nitroglycerine:

Nitroglycerine is a vasodilator medication commonly used to treat angina and heart failure.

While pericarditis may cause chest pain similar to angina, nitroglycerine is not typically used as a primary treatment for pericarditis.

In fact, nitroglycerine may exacerbate symptoms of pericarditis by causing venodilation and increasing cardiac preload.