Neuro Flashcards
Diagnostic Tests
- CT
- MRI
- Cerebral Angiogram
- Carotid Flow study
- Lumbar Puncture
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Onocologic Disorder of Brain and Spinal cord-
- Brain Tumors - grades 1-4 and stages
- Spinal cord tumors - classified by anatomic position
Neurologic Trauma
- Skull Fractures
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - concussion, cerebral contusion, diffuse axonal injury
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Know:
- Manifestations
- Emergency management
- Non-Surgical and Surgical Intervention
- Nursing Management
- Complications - spinal shock, neurogenic shock, DVT, orthostatic hypotension
- Autonomic Dysreflexia (also a complication of SCI)
Seizures
Know:
- Management
- Nurse considerations
Infectious Disorders of the Nervous System
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
Misc. Neurologic Disorders
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Myasthenia gravis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
Cranial Nerve Disorders
- Bell’s Palsy
- Parkinson’s Disease
Degenerative Neurologic Disorders
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD)
Cerebrovascular Disorders
-Stroke - ischemic and hemorrhagic
Types of Intracranial hemorrhage/intracranial hematomas
-Epidural (above dura) - RAPID bleed
-Subdural (below dura) - SLOW bleed
=Acute: s/s 24 - 48 hrs
=Subacute: s/s 48 hrs - 2 weeks
=Chronic: s/s wks - months
-Intracerebral (within the brain)
Types of head injury (plus hemorrhages)
-Concussion (Mild TBI)
=if loss of consciousness is
Complications of SCI
-Spinal Shock
=brain is bruised or swollen so spine is “shocked”
-Sudden depression of motor, sensory, reflex and autonomic function
-Neurogenic shock
=hemodynamic problems that can take up to a couple weeks to reverse
=loss of autonomic nervous system function below lesion (M/C above T6)
=bradycardia, vasodilation, hypotension, inability to perspire (check temp often!)
- DVT
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Ascending Edema
-Autonomic dysreflexia
=hyperactive autonomic function
Autonomic Dysreflexia
EMERGENCY - often caused by bladder distention! (a wrinkle in sheets can cause as well)
S/S:
- severe, pounding HA
- paroxysmal hypertension
- profuse diaphoresis
- nausea
- nasal congestion
- bradycardia
- hypertension
Treatment:
- raise HOB
- remove triggering stimulus
- possible admin of ganglionic blocking agent (hydralazine, hydrochloride, apresoline)
- label chart with autonomic dysreflexia
- education pt of prevention and management
- may need to straight cath every hour to prevent
Complications of Myasthenia Gravis
-Myasthenic crisis (causes respiratory distress)
-Cholinergic crisis
=caused by too much medication
=severe generalized muscle weakness
=respiratory impairment
=excessive pulmonary secretions
*intubation
*mechanical ventilation
*cholinesterase inhibitors stopped when respiratory failure occurs; restarted gradually
