Traumatic Brain Injury Flashcards
What does AVPU stand for
Alert
Responsive to verbal stimuli
Responsive to painful stimuli
Unconscious
Actions to carry out when pt has altered level of consciousness
GCS
PEARL
FLP
Full neurological assessment by dr
What are the 6 lobes of the brain?
Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal Limbic Lumbar cortex
Normal ICP value
<15mmHg
Cerebral perfusion pressure equation
CPP= mean arterial pressure -intracranial pressure
Nausea and vomiting is caused by pressure in which area of the brain?
Vomit receptors in the 4th ventricle on the medulla oblongata
3 factors that make up cushings triad
Decreased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Wide pulse pressure
Definition of tonsillar herniation
Brain stem pushes down into the vertebral column aka coning
What are the early signs of tonsillar coning?
Pupil changes
Confusion
Headache
What is meant by the term haematoma?
Solid swelling of clotted blood between tissues
Areas of the brain susceptible to haematoma formation
Subdura
Cerebral epidural
Spinal epidural
How quickly should a pt with suspected head injury be seen?
<15minutes
4 tools of neurological assessment
GCS
Obs
Pupillary reaction
Limb powers
What are the three aspects of response that GCS measures?
Eye opening
Best verbal response
Best motor response
In GCS what is eye opening scored out of?
4
In GCS what is best verbal response scored out of?
5
In GCS what is best motor response scored out of?
6
With a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury what should the:
SaO2
PaCO2
CO2 be?
SaO2 normal 95-100%
PaCO2 normal 4.5-6
CO2 normal 23-29mEq/L
What degree should a pt with traumatic brain injury be nursed at?
30 degrees to reduce ICP
What is the function of the cerebrum?
Interpretation of sensory data.
Co-ordination of muscular movement
Intellectual and emotional processes.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Co-ordination
Skilful movement, posture and balance
What is the function of the brain stem?
Communication centre between spinal cord and brain.
Houses 10/12 cranial nerve pairs.
Reflex centres for respiration, cardiovascular system and consciousness.
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Controls autonomic nervous system.
Emotion and behaviour.
Temperature.
Maintaining circadian rhythm
What are the 4 functions of the frontal lobe?
Behaviour
Intelligence
Memory
Movement
What are the 4 functions of the parietal lobe?
Intelligence
Language
Reading
Sensation
What are the function of the occipital lobe?
Vision
What are the 5 functions of the temporal lobe?
Behaviour Hearing Memory Speech Vision
What are the 5 functions of the brain stem?
BP Breathing Consciousness Heartbeat Swallowing
What are the 2 functions of the cerebellum?
Balance
Co-ordination
What are the two pairs of arteries that supply blood to the brain?
Carotid and spinal arteries.
Name 4 of the main arteries in the brain?
Internal carotid artery
Middle cerebral artery
Circle of Willis
BAsilar artery
What are names of the 3 meninges of the brain? From outter to inner most.
Arachnoid membrane
Dura mata
Pia mata
What is the Monro-Kellie Hypothesis? What are the 3 compartments?
That the intercranial volume is fixed between three compartments within the brain:
Brain/intracellular water
Cerebral blood volue
Cerebrospinal fluid