Neurology Nursing and Physiotherapy Flashcards
what are the main categories of disease which neurological patients fall into?
seizure
spinal cord injury
neuromuscular disease
head trauma
what are the main considerations of nursing the neuro patient?
are they ambulatory have they had surgery are the continent what is their temperament like are they recumbent what is their normal routine
what considerations may need to be made about a neuro patients temperament?
are they anxious
do they kennel guard
what effect will this have on the care possible
how should the kennel be set up for a neuro patient?
thick bedding (duvet or mattress) for the bottom layer
layer bedding with incontinence pads
use a soft vet bed as the top layer to wick away urine
pad the sides of the kennel with pillows
why should bedding be layered with incontinence sheets?
only one layer of bedding needs to be changed every time
why is vet bed used as the top layer of bedding?
will wick away urine and prevent the animal spending time sat in urine and urine scald
what must be considered about kennel access for the neuro patient?
how will the patient be moved in and out of the kennel and are they likely to kennel guard
what neuro patients may not be able to urinate for themselves?
paraplegic patients and some paretic
what are the 2 bladder types seen in neuro patients?
upper motor neuron bladder
lower motor neuron bladder
describe an upper motor neuron bladder
distended, difficult to express
describe a lower motor neuron bladder
distended
easy to express
how can a patients bladder be emptied?
manual expression
intermittent catheterisation
in-dwelling catheterisation
what does the method of emptying an incontinent patients bladder depend on?
the individual, how tolerant they are and their size
when does overflow incontinence occur?
when the patient is unaware that their bladder is full as their reflexes have been damaged
what happens during overflow incontinence?
bladder fills until it is overflowing
patient then leaks urine
what is the risk associated with a patient leaking urine due to overflow incontinence?
can cause urine scalding quite quickly
what is a continuously full bladder a risk factor for?
UTI
what can prevent the bladder from leaking and so avoid complications?
good bladder management such as catheterisation or bladder expression
when does urine scalding occur?
when urine is consistently left on a patients skin
what is caused by urine sitting on a patients skin?
soreness
erythema
breakdown of skin if left untreated
how is urine scalding prevented?
keeping incontinent patients clean and dry
what are the main causes of urine scald?
overflow incontinence
leaky bladder
how often should a patients bladder be expressed?
q6-8 hours (around 4 times a day)
how often should an intermittent catheter be placed?
BID
risk of iatrogenic trauma with each passing of the catheter
how often should an indwelling catheter bag be epmtied?
3-4 times a day depending on bag size
what sort of procedure is urinary catheterisation?
sterile
what are spinal injury patients very prone to?
UTI
what about the urine of neuro patients should be monitored?
smell
colour
turbidity
how should the neuro patients bladder be managed once at home?
owner needs to monitor for UTI and should speak to the vet if they have concerns
when does faecal incontinence occur?
when the patient is unable to control their bowel movements so faeces leak/fall out of the rectum
do the bowels continue to function in the paraplegic patient?
yes but the patient may not have full control
what may the faeces of an incontinent patient be like?
normally formed or may be soft
why must any faeces be removed from the patient’s bed quickly?
although they may be unaware they have passed is they can be very distressed by having faeces in their bed
what may be required to keep faecally incontinent patients clean and dry at all times?
regular bathing
check beds regularly
what is the issue with bathing patients with faecal incontinence?
may make the skin sore
how should a bath be performed on a patient who is having to be bathed regularly?
oatmeal shampoos
very gentle bathing
patting dry instead of rubbing to prevent trauma
what must faecally incontinent patients be checked for daily?
any changes to skin or sore spots
what can be applied if a faecally incontinent patient is becoming sore?
topical creams prescribed by vet and notedon hospital record
what is the issue with using nappies on pets once they are home to control faecal incontinence?
they may be left on for too long and so the faeces remain in contact with the skin and cause trauma
what patients are most at risk of decubital ulcers?
recumbent and paraplegic patients
what is a decubital ulcer?
open skin wound caused by continued pressure of the skin on a firm surface. This pressure eventually causes tissue ischemia in the skin leading to injury
where do decubital ulcers most often occur?
bony prominences such as the ileum, ischium, hock, olecranon and foot
why must decubital ulcers be treated quickly?
to prevent infection and to stop the lesion from getting larger
how often should recumbent patients be turned?
every 4 hours as minimum
more regularly for more bony breeds
how can decubital ulcers be prevented?
turn every 4 hours
deep, padded bedding
keep patients clean and dry
donut bandages on hocks and elbows can prevent sores or aid healing
prop patients up into sternal for comfort
what is the issue with turning recumbent patients?
must be done with great care especially in patients with instabilities (e.g. spinal fractures)
should the hair around decubital ulcers be clipped?
not too close to prevent any further skin damage
what products can be used to prevent sores and care for patients skin?
clorexyderm
talcum powder
cavilon spray
flamazine (POM-V)
what is clorexyderm used for?
treatment of mild urine scalding
what is talc used for?
to help dry a patient after bathing and prevent excessive rubbing
what is flamazine used for?
surface thickness sores under the direction of a vet
what is cavilon spray used for?
no sting barrier used around anus and perineum when a patient has diarrhoea
should patients be exercised even if they can’t walk?
yes
why is it important that all patients are up and moving even if they cannot walk?
aids mental well-being by being allowed to exhibit normal behaviours e.g. sniffing outside for dogs
aside from mental well-being what is the other benefit of exercising a patient?
helps to mobilise joints and muscles in the limbs that work as well as the ones that don’t work
why must great care be taken when exercising plegic/paretic patients?
spine will be unstable so care and specialist equipment must be used
what equipment can be used to walk the paraparetic or paraplegic patient?
sling or rear harness
what position must the patients spine be in when walking using a sling/harness?
natural / neutral position
while being exercised what should patients be allowed to do?
exhibit normal behaviour and given the opportunity to pass urine/faeces if they are able to
how often should the paraparetic/paraplegic patient be turned if unable to turn themselves when rested?
every 2-4 hours
what equipment is used for paraparetic or paraplegic patients?
rear harness
foot covers
sling
how are foot covers used in paraparetic or paraplegic patients?
used to cover hind paws when walking to prevent trauma to hind toes and claws as they will drag on the floor
when may a sling be used for paraperetic/paraplegic patients?
when they are slightly more mobile
how should the tetraplegic/paratic patient be walked?
using a secure and supportive chest harness and a sling or rear harness
what equipment may be needed to move large tetraplegic/paratic patients?
hoist
if no hoist multiple people will be needed walk larger patients