A patient with severe pericarditis has developed a large pericardial effusion and is symptomatic. What type of procedure should the physician order to help treat this condition?

Choice A rationale
Bleeding from the gums is a sign of excessive bleeding, which can be a side effect of thrombolytic therapy. Thrombolytic agents work by dissolving blood clots, but they can also interfere with the body’s normal clotting mechanism, leading to bleeding. If a patient experiences unusual or excessive bleeding, it may be necessary to stop the infusion of the thrombolytic agent.
Choice B rationale
An increase in blood pressure is not typically a reason to stop the infusion of a thrombolytic agent in a patient with an acute myocardial infarction. While blood pressure should be monitored closely during thrombolytic therapy, an increase in blood pressure is not a common side effect.
Choice C rationale
A nonsustained episode of ventricular tachycardia is not typically a reason to stop the infusion of a thrombolytic agent in a patient with an acute myocardial infarction. While arrhythmias can occur during a myocardial infarction, they are not a common side effect of thrombolytic therapy.
Choice D rationale
A decreased level of consciousness can be a sign of many serious conditions, including bleeding in the brain. However, it is not typically a reason to stop the infusion of a thrombolytic agent unless it is accompanied by other signs of excessive bleeding.

Choice A rationale
Reducing the overall contractility of the heart muscle is not the primary reason for performing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)4. In fact, reducing the contractility of the heart muscle could potentially decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
Choice B rationale
Reducing plaque buildup in the carotid artery is not the primary reason for performing CABG4. While plaque buildup in the carotid artery can lead to serious conditions such as stroke, CABG is specifically performed to bypass blocked coronary arteries, not carotid arteries.
Choice C rationale
Increasing the oxygen supply to the heart muscle is the primary reason for performing CABG4. When coronary arteries become blocked or narrowed due to plaque buildup, the heart muscle may not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. CABG is performed to create a new route, or bypass, around the blocked artery, which improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Choice D rationale
Increasing the myocardial workload is not the primary reason for performing CABG4. In fact, increasing the workload of the heart could potentially exacerbate heart disease and lead to complications such as heart failure.