Traumatic Brain Injury

Question 1

What are the signs and symptoms of a TBI?

Answer 1

nausea/vomiting, slurred speech, weakness in arms or legs, confusion

Question 2

What are the causes of a TBI?

Answer 2

falls, sports, MVA, violence

Question 3

What is the pathophysiology of a TBI?

Answer 3

Brian suffers traumatic brain injury
brain swelling or bleeding increase intracranial pressure
rigid cranium allows for no room for expansion of contents so intracranial pressure increases
pressure on vessels in the brain causes blood flow to slow in the brain
cerebral hypoxia and ischaemia occurs
intracranial pressure continues to increase. brain may herniate
cerebral blood flow ceases

Question 4

What are the nursing interventions and rationale of a TBI?

Answer 4

Administer O2 as prescribed
to reduce the risk of hypoxia
Maintain neck and head
alignment to maintain
airway patency and avoid a
rise in intracranial pressure
Continuous GCS monitoring
to monitor if there is any
deterioration to enable
timely intervention
Administer metoprolol as
prescribe to decrease blood
pressure to prevent further
rise in intracranial pressure