Neuro Flashcards
neuro assessment of pediatric pt
- complete a comprehensive hx of the child’s developmental and neurological status prior to investigation
- basic components:
- LOC
- pupillary responce
- motor function
- V/S
- head circumference: tape around widest part at or above eyebrow and pinna
- fontanels
- sutures
- inc flexor tone
- response to simulation
- ability to suck: if not coordinated, may aspirate or stop feeding
- assess cry
- assess head control
LOC
- assess amount of stimulation required to awaken child
- assess if stimulation is required to keep awake
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS):
- 3 parts: eye opening response, verbal response, motor response
- document best of each
- used in ED, ICU, neuro floors
- higher the number, the more stable the patient
- minimal–3
- maximal–15
- score of 8 or less: coma
- changes should be documented and reported to the physician immediately
define full consciousness
- awake and alert
- oriented to time, place, person
- behavior appropriate for age
define confusion
- impaired decision making
define disorientation
- confusion regarding time and placed
- dec LOC
define lethargy
- limited spontaneous movement
- sluggish speech
define obtundation
- arousable with stimulation
define stupor
- remains in deep sleep
- responsive only to vigorous and repeated stimulation
define coma
- no motor or verbal response to noxious (painful) stimuli
persistent vegetative state (PVS)
- permanently lost function of the cerebral cortex
- eyes follow objects only when by reflex or when attracted to te direction by loud sounds
- all 4 extremities are spastic but can w/ draw from painful stimuli
- hands show reflexive grasping and groping
- face can grimace, some food may be swallowed and the child may groan or cry but utter no words
pupillary response
- use small penlight
- normal: 2-6 mm
- examine eyes in darkened room
- direct response: if light in R eye, R pupil constrict
- consensual response: if light in R eye, L pupil constrict
- conjugate gaze: both pupils are moving in same direction
- PERRLA: CANNOT test accommodation on the littlest ones b/c they can’t cooperate to do this
motor function
- posture and muscle tone
- grip strength: fingers in their palm to squeeze
- symmetry of movements made to commands
vital signs
- heart rate should be WNL–>increases with pain and fear
- normal RR: normal for neonates to have episodes of periodic breathing
- problem if persistent apnea
- BP should be WNL
- temp should be WNL
signs of decreasing LOC
- gradual loss of eye contact (infant); confusion (child)
- weak irritable cry (infant); less responsive (child)
- less responsive (infant); lethargy (child)
- lethargy (infant); coma (child)
- coma (infant)
signs of deterioration in pupillary response
- could become–larger, smaller, unequal, sluggish
- disconjugate gaze: eyes moving in different directions
- dilation and unresponsiveness to light: blown pupil–>emergency
- inc in ICP and can lead to herniation
signs of deterioration with V/S
- change as neuro changes occur-changes in pulse and BP are more important than the direction of change
- tachycardia then bradycardia
- could be inc or dec
- wideneing PP: indicative of IICP
- can be hyper or hypothermic
- esp in neonates–can be hypothermic and this can be infection
Cushing’s reflex (triad)
- caused by IICP
- triad: bradycardia, inc in BP, irregular breathing
- very late and ominous sign
- means the brain is about to herniate
- resp changes:
- best to describe what is happening than put a label on it
- periodic breathing: ominous sign which indicates brainstem (esp medullary) dysfunction–usually precedes complete apnea
- assess fontanels and head circumference
DTRs and other reflexes
- DTRs: diminished or absent
- only tested by trained person, not nurse
- oculocephalic reflex (doll’s eyes): move head from side to side
- but don’t do if client has a SCI
- when normal: when head turned to R, eyes go to L
- oculovestibular reflex (ice water calorics):
- don’t do if pt is alert
- put ice water into ear and should see nystagmus toward ear
- so if put in R ear, eyes move to R if normal
when should child have good head control?
- 4 mos
- unless not sufficient tummy time, which strengthens neck and shoulder Ms
Babinski reflex
- normal until about 2 yo
Moro reflex
- strongest during first 2 mos
- if present after 4 mos, it is indicative of brain damage
- could indicate infantile spasms
- absence could indicate hearing impairment
Palmar reflex
- should disappear by 3-4 mos
Rooting reflex
- disappears by 3-4 mos
- may persist up to 12 mos when the child is sleeping
- absence is indicative of severe neurological disorder
Sucking reflex
- reflex persists throughout infancy
- weak or absent reflex indicates developmental delay or neurological abnormality
grading of reflexes
- 4+ is hyperactive
- 3+ is brisker than normal
- 2+ is normal
- 1+ is diminished
- 0 is absent
neuro assessment in older child
- assess response to command
- assess speech
- orientation: person, place, time, and event
- note mood
- pupillary response
- ability to read, write, copy, draw shapes
nursing implications of developmental differences
- nurses must be aware that the assessment of infants and children is limited by the child’s developmental level
- can’t always tell use how they are feeling or what hurts
- child’s neuro status can appear to change rapidly b/c of limitations of assessment
- b/c of open cranial sutures and fontanels–help to compensate for inc in ICP
- neuro signs may be evident or may manifest in more subtle ways, such as lack of interest in eating, irritability
factors influencing neuro function assessment
- rate of change
- severity of problem: static or progressive
- nature and location of problem:
- focal: 1 site
- multi focal: multi site
- diffuse: all over
non invasive diagnostic neuro testing
- CT scan: allergies, fluids, urine output
- MRI
- EEG
- evoked potentials
- echoencephalogram
- teach pts what is required for tests
- use developmentally appropriate language w/ child and parents
invasive diagnostic neuro testing
- LP
- collecting CSF to dx meningitis
- don’t do if IICP –get ICP down before can do this test
- use EMLA cream 45 min before with a transparent dressing over it as a topical anesthetic
- cisternal puncture
- subdural tap
- do with substernal hematoma and successively testing to remove pressure
- myelogram
- cerebral angiography
- pneumoencephalogram
LP and CSF exam
- normal:
- pressure <200 cm H2O
- color: clear and colorless
- blood: none
- assess serum glucose before LP and compare to glucose in CSF
age related differences in brain growth and cerebral blood flow and O2 consumption
- 50% of brain’s growth completed by 1 year
- 75% by 3 yo
- 90% by 6 yo
- CBF and O2 consumption are faster in children b/c of inc in metabolism
- it is important to note the brain is inactive organ that uses 10 times the O2 used by the rest of the body