traumatic brain injury/brain tumors Flashcards
how is a TBI diagnosed?
CT scan
what is Battles sign and what does this indicate along with raccoon eyes/
its post auricular ecchymosis.
what would I conclude if CSF was leaking from nose and ears?
Dural Tear
what do I NOT want to do if pt has facial fracture?
insert an NG tube
my patients pillow case has a red spot with a green-sih yellow circle around it. What is this called and what does it mean?
“Halo’s sign” and it means theres CSF leak
what is contusion?
bruising of the brain tissue within a focal area
what is common with focal head injuries?
seizures and overal IICP
prognosis from a contusion depends on:
severity of contusio and whether it continues to evolve
if a “coup” injury was on the front of the skull, where would the contrecoup be?
the back of the skull
what is a diffuse axonal injury?
widespread axonal damage which can be mild to severe
how long after initial TBI can a DAI occur?
12-24 hrs
brain “shaken like a bowl of jello’ describes this type of injury
diffuse axonal
____% of those with severe DAI remain in vegetative state
90
if pt has an epidural hematoma, what am I expecting to do?
care to treat IICP, get ready for immediate emergent surgery to remove bleed
why is a subdural hematoma usually less emergent than a epidural hematoma?
because its usually venous and not arterial
can a subdural hematoma be acute? can it be chronic?
yes, both. it can also be subacute.
an 85 year old falls and hits their head. what kind of hematoma would they be most likely to have?
subdural
what do we want to establish first thing once a head injury pt arrives at hospital?
two large bore IVS
what assessments are done when a head injury enters hosptial?
ongoing VS, O2 sats, tele, GCS pupils and limb strength (neuro assessment record)
what are the classifications of brain tumors?
Primary and Secondary, benign (encapsulated) and malignant (invasive)
what is a Burr Hole? what is it often used for?
its a hole drilled into the dura so that a subdural hematoma can be evacuated and a drain can be established
can a biopsy be taken from a stereostatic radiosurgery?
no, this one is only for delivering radiation
what GI related complications ight a post-craniotomy patient have?
stress gastric ulcer, constipation
what is common with someone post-craniotomy that would require teacing the family about?
personality changes, slow recovery (long process)
