MEDizzy - A health-care provider orders that carboprost tromethamine

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Neonatal and High-Risk Neonatal Management

A health-care provider orders that carboprost tromethamine (Hemabate®) be given to a postpartum client who is experiencing uterine atony. Because of the side effects of this medication, a nurse should also prepare to give the client:

ExplanationCarboprost tromethamine is a synthetic analog of naturally occurring prostaglandin F2 alpha, which stimulates myometrial contractions and is therefore used to treat postpartum hemorrhage caused by uterine atony. Because it is a synthetic prostaglandin, it also stimulates the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. Sixty percent of clients ex- perience nausea and diarrhea. Thus, an antiemetic medication is often prescribed before and/or during carboprost tromethamine therapy. Carboprost tromethamine does not cause agitation; therefore, a sedative would not be required. Because carboprost tromethamine does cause diar- rhea, a stool softener would be contraindicated. Oral fluids would be diffi- cult to tolerate because the medication causes nausea and vomiting.