Cerebral Flashcards
Cranium composition
80% brain
10% CSF
10% blood
Major causes of Head injurys
Falls Motor vehicle injury Bicycle/motor bike Sports related injury Child abuse Assault
TBI
Leads to severe brain damage or death if not recognized and treated appropriately
Causes of ICP
Head injury Subdural/Epidural hematoma IVH (intraventricular hemorrhage) Fractures Meningitis/Encephalitis Hydrocephalus Status Epilepticus Reyes Syndrome Cerebral edema
Concussion:
Most common injury
Concussion: Hallmark signs and symptoms
Confusion, amnesia, altered neurological or cognitive function with or without loss of consciousness
Occurs immediately after injury
Signs of ICP
Concussion: Treatment
Resolves between 7-10 days but can take up to several months depending on severity
Rest!!!
Contusion
Visible bruising and tearing of cerebral tissue
Small petechiae or little bleeds in brain tissue
Degree of brain damage in the contused areas varies according to the extent of vascular injury
Epidural Hemorrhage/Hematoma:
Bleeding the dura mater and the skull to form a hematoma, dura is peeled off the skull, and its arterial blood that lying underneath
Not as common as subdural hematomas
Usually occurs in younger adults
Epidural Hemorrhage/Hematoma: S/S
Brief loss of consciousness followed by a period of awareness that may last several hours before the brain function deteriorates sometimes leaving the patient in acoma
Very serious if not treated immediately the patient can die
Epidural Hemorrhage/Hematoma: Treatment
Neurosurgeon will go in and evacuate the hematoma
Patients usually have a good outcome if its recognized immediately
Subdural Hemorrhage
Bleeding between the dura mater and the arachnoid membrane, usually due to stretching and tearing of veins on the brain’s surface
Traumatic, acute subdural hematoma is the most lethal of all head injuries
More common than epidural hematomas. most often infancy as a result of birth trauma, falls, child abuse, or violent shaking
CSF analysis: Glucose content-viral
Normal
Penetrating trauma
Gun shot wounds or objects that break the barrier of the skull
Fractures: Linear
Most common type of skull fracture
break in the bone but it doesn’t move the bone
May be observed for a brief time
No interventions needed
Fractures: Depressed
Seen with and without a cut in the scalp
Part of the skull is actually sunken in from the trauma
May require surgical intervention, depending on the severity, to help correct the deformity
Fractures: Diastatic
Widen the sutures of the skull and usually affect children under 3
The normal suture lines are widened
More often seen in newborns and older infants
Fractures: Comminuted
Fracture in which the bone has broken into several pieces
Fractures: Basilar
Most serious type of skull fracture, and involves a break in the bone at the base of the skull
Frequently have bruises behind the ears (battle signs) and around the eyes (raccoon eyes)
Clear fluid draining from their nose or ears due to a tear in part of the covering of the brain
Usually require close observation in the hospital
Classic raccoon eyes, bleeding around the nose, ear, and ethmoid sinus
Minor head injury symptoms
May or may not lose consciousness HA Confusion, amnesia Listlessness Pallor Vomiting, generally projectile Irritability Seizures
Severe head injury symptoms
Decreased LOC/GCS Changes in VS Bulging fontanels Retinal hemorrhage Unsteady gait Hemiparesis, numbness on one side Quadriplegia, numbness on all 4 extremities Elevated temperature
Warning signs after head injury (first 24hr)
Change in LOC Increased drowsiness, confusion, difficult to arouse Seizures Bleeding or water drainage from nose and ears Pupils slow to react or unequal Visual problems Loss of sensation to any extremity Slurred speech Projectile vomiting
Diagnostics for head injury
H&P Baseline VS SpO2 LOC/GCS ABG Alcohol level Drug screen CBC Xray CT scan MRI
Secondary complications from head injury
Changes in LOC (Pay attention to changes) Coma Increased ICP Infection -open penetrating wound Cerebral edema Hemorrhage Seizures Hypoxic brain damage Brain herniation Brain death
Nursing management of head injury
ABC Cervical spinal cord stabilization (neck brace has to stay in place until cervical spine injury has been ruled out) Elevate HOB and Midline Thorough PE (log roll patient) VS (look for widening pulse pressure and low pulse- sign of Cushing's triad) SpO2 GCS Pain Drainage (eyes, ears, nose) NPO IV fluids Strict I & O Monitor labs closely (Na, serum osmolality, urine output, DI, SIADH) Seizure precautions Monitor S/S of ICP (complaining of HA, pupillary changes, vomiting, behavioral changes) Quiet, dark room, Cluster care Support family and educate
Glascow coma scale: Eye opening
4: Spontaneously
3: To voice
2: To pain
1: None
Glascow coma scale: Verbal response
5: Normal conversation
4: Disoriented conversation
3: Words, not coherent
2: No words, only sounds
1: None
Glascow coma scale: Motor response
6: Normal
5: Localized to pain
4: Withdraws to pain
3: Decorticate
2: Decerebrate
1: None
GCS classifications
Mild: 13-14
Moderate: 9-12
Severe: 3-8
Leaking of CSF
Halo sign on the sheets
There is blood at the center surrounded by clear liquid leaking and a visible ring surrounding
Use a chemical strip and dip it for glucose
Positive: its CSF
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
Increase in volume of the cranium leads to increases intracranial pressure
Infants can compensate when sutures are still open
Changes in LOC is the first sign of ICP
Changes in vital signs follow: Cushing triad (late sign)
Causes of Increased ICP
Head injury Subdural/Epidural hematoma IVH (intraventricular hemorrhage) Fractures Meningitis/Encephalitis Hydrocephalus Status Epilepticus Reyes Syndrome Cerebral edema
Signs of Increased ICP: Infants
Tense bulging fontanel Separated cranial sutures Increased FOC Irritability Restlessness Drowsiness Increased sleeping Poor feeding High pitch cry
Signs of Increased ICP: Children
HA N/V Diplopia Blurred vision Seizures Drowsiness Lethargy Increased sleeping
Severe/ Late signs of Increased ICP: Changes in LOC
Decreased response to painful stimuli
Decreased consciousness
Coma
Seizures
Severe/ Late signs of Increased ICP: Eyes
Changes are considered a medical emergency (notify MD immediately)
Papilledema (bulging or swelling behind optic disc that is caused by increased ICP, usually bilaterally and can occur occur a period of hours to weeks)
Alterations in/unequal pupil size and reactivity to light (fixed or dilated pupil)
Impaired eye movement
Severe/ Late signs of Increased ICP: Posturing
Decerebrate
Decorticate
Flaccid
Decerebrate
Arms are extended outward, indicative of severe brain stem injury
Worst posturing
Decorticate
Abnormal posturing where person is stiff with arms bent, clenching fist with legs pointed out straight
Mummy pose
Severe brain damage
Severe/ Late signs of Increased ICP: Change in vitals
Cushing’s triad
Cheynes-stokes respirations (increased RR, then slow RR, then a period of apnea)
Decreased motor response to command
Management of Increased ICP
Neurosurgery consult Emergency craniotomy Mechanical ventilation Central line/Arterial line CPP (cerebral perfusion pressure)=MAP (represents the pressure gradient driving cerebral blood flow and hence O2 and metabolite delivery) NGT/DHT Foley ICP monitoring (EVD, Bolt, Normal pressure ranges from 3-5, sneeze goes up to 10-15) High ICP must be treated immediately
Nursing management of Increased ICP
Monitoring Strict bed rest NPO/IV fluids Strict I&O Pain control Elevate HOB Head midline Decrease stimuli Cluster care Suctioning Restraints Elimination Safety Nutrition Seizure precautions Coping
Diabetes insipidus
High urinary output Low level of ADH HyperNa Dehydrated Lose too much fluid Excessive thirst
SIADH
Low urinary output High ADH HypoNa Overhydrated Retain too much fluid Excessive thirst
Pharmacological management of Increased ICP
Mannitol (cerebral edema) Hypertonic saline solution (preferred) Corticosteroids Analgesics Sedatives Paralytics Anticonvulsants (prophylactic) Antibiotics
Reportable S/S of Increased ICP
Change in: V/S, labs, LOC, GCS, Behavior, Pupils, Pain, Posturing
Confirmation of brain death
Fixed and dilated pupils
Absent corneal reflexes (rub q-tip across cornea)
Absent gag reflex
Apnea test (turn off ventilator for 30 sec and see if the patient breaths)
Cold caloric test (put water in the patient’s ear- causes nausea, nystagmus)
EEG (cerebral silence)
Cerebral blood flow exam/No flow to the brain
Prevention of head injury
Never leave infant unattended on bed, couch, chairs
Always have infant/child secure in high chair
Always have infant/child in appropriate size car seat, secure seatbelt
Place car seat in appropriate position in regards to age/wt/manufactures recommendations
Firearm security and safety
Make sure helmets are worn during bike ride/horseback riding/skating/skateboarding/sports
Monitor child’s play on playgrounds and around roads/stairs/steps
Never shake a child
Cushing’s triad
HTN
Bradycardia
Apnea
Intracranial infections
Meningitis (inflammation of the meninges lining the brain and the spinal cord)
Encephalitis (inflammation affecting the brain)