Case study

Case studies allow clinical episodes and practices to be articulated and explored. The case study should be about a patient you have cared for, relating actual events in which you were involved and critiquing the clinical events based upon the literature.

Here is a few notes to the patient this case study will be on. The main issue with this patient is his medications for his Parkinson\’s disease where missed prior to surgery resulting in severe motor impairment. Below is a brief outline of his background and the case study structure

This case study plan is in regards to a 90-year-old inpatient booked on the emergency theatre list for treatment of a right trochanteric femur fracture. Patient X has a history of Poor short term memory, benign prostatic hypertrophy with outflow obstruction, Osteoarthritis, Essential hypertension, Gout and Parkinsons disease. As patient X was scheduled for theatre the patient was put on a fasting diet in preparation for his surgery.

Patient was reviewed on arrival in holding bay; on arrival, the anaesthetist noted that patient X had severe motor impairment secondary to his Parkinson\’s disease. The anaesthetist then reviewed patient Xs medications which revealed Sinemet had not been given since 2000 hours the previous night, resulting in 2 missed doses, although the order was active. There is the potential that the ward nursing staff had not administered patients X medications ?due to fasting.
Note: using electronic medical records

Structure of the Case Study
The following areas should be considered:
Introduction to the case and explanation of the reason for selection.
Body of text that covers the following areas:
present the patients story – including clinical presentation, diagnosis, any relevant history and the pathophysiology of the patients condition
outline of the clinical progress of the patient through the perioperative environment, including interdisciplinary interventions (with an emphasis on nursing)
critique the nursing management of the patient and interpret the outcomes of interventions, supported with relevant (and appropriate) literature.
Conclusion that summarises the patient case study.