Author Pearl
Being alert for rhythm changes can alert one to possible critical changes in a patient. In one such incident, the patient’s recovery was progressing and she was feeling great by day two. However, on day three the progression halted and actually reversed. The patient no longer was enthused about walking; she did not have nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, or fever. Her vital signs were stable; the only thing that changed was that the patient began to complain of worsening pain, worse than her initial per-operative complaint. The patient had a contrast computer tomography of the abdomen and pelvis which revealed necrotic bowel.