What is the initial intervention in a patient with sinus tachycardia with the following vital signs: heart rate,136 beats/min; blood pressure,102/60 mm Hg; respiratory rate,24 breaths/min; temperature,99.2° F; SpO₂,94% on oxygen 2 L/min by nasal cannula?
A) Administer adenosine IV push.
B) Identify the cause.
C) Administer nitroglycerine 0.4 mg sublingual.
D) Administer lidocaine 75 mg IV push.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sinus tachycardia can be caused by a wide variety of factors,such as exercise,emotion,pain,fever,hemorrhage,shock,heart failure,and thyrotoxicosis.Many medications used in critical care can also cause sinus tachycardia; common culprits are aminophylline,dopamine,hydralazine,atropine,and catecholamines such as epinephrine.This patient has a stable heart rate and SpO₂; therefore,there is time to identify the cause of the sinus tachycardia.Lidocaine is indicated for ventricular dysrhythmias.Nitroglycerine is not indicated because the patient is not having chest pain at this time.Adenosine is usually not indicated unless the heart rate is greater than 150 beats/min.

What Is the Initial Intervention in a Patient with Sinus