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MED. SURG 2 > Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) > Flashcards

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Head Injury?

A

any trauma to the;

  • skull
  • brain
  • scalp
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2
Q

Causes of head injury

A
  • motor vehicle accident**
  • falls**
  • firearm-related injuries
  • assaults
  • sports-related injuries
  • recreational accidents
  • war-related injuries
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3
Q

Head Injury
3 points in time after injury

A

high potential for poor outcome

deaths occur at three points in time after injury:

  1. immediately after the injury (r/t hemorrhage and shock)
  2. within 2 hrs after the injury (r/t hemorrhage)
  3. 3 weeks after the injury (r/t multi system failure)
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4
Q

Types of Head Injuries: Scalp Lacerations

A
  • external head trauma
  • scalp is highly vascular- profuse bleeding
  • major complication- blood loss and infection
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5
Q

Types of Head Injuries: Skull Fractures

A
  • frequently occur with head trauma
  • linear or depressed
  • simple, comminuted, or compound
  • closed or open
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6
Q

Linear Fracture
Simple linear or depressed fracture

A
  • associated with LOW-VELOCITY IMPACT
  • when there is a break in continnuty of bone without alterations of parts

simple linear or depressed fracture:

  • without fragmentation or communicating lacerations.
  • caused by low to MODERATE IMPACT
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7
Q

Depressed skull fracture

A

associated with POWERFUL BLOW

inward indentation

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8
Q

Comminuted Fracture

A
  • multiple linear fractures with fragmentation of many bone in many pieces.
  • associated with DIRECT HIGH-MOMENTUM IMPACT
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9
Q

Compound Fracture example

A

depressed skull fracture and laceration with communicating pathway to intracranial cavity

associated with SEVERE head injury

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10
Q

Skull Fractures: manifestations, complications

A

-Location determines manifestations
-complications:
infection
hematoma
tissue damage: meningeal/ brain tissue

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11
Q

Basilar Skull Fracture &
Basal Skull Fracture Suspicion

A

Basilar skull fracture: specialized type of linear skull fracture that occurs involving the base of the skull.
Generally associated with tear in the dura and subsequent leakage of CSF.

  • Rinorrhea- CSF leakage from nose
  • Otorrhea- CSF leakage from ear

(CSF leakage increases risk for meningitis. Antibiotics should be given) test for glucose unless there’s blood then use 4x4

nasogastric or nasal tube should be inserted under fluoroscopy

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12
Q

Signs of Basilar Skull Fractures

A

may include cranial nerve deficits

  • Raccoon eyes- periorbital ecchymosis
  • Battle’s sign- postauricular ecchymosis
  • Halo sign- stain of blood with white ring around
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13
Q

Types of Head Injuries

A

categorized as;

Diffuse (generalized)- concussion, diffuse

Focal (localized)- contusion, hematoma

classified as;

Minor (GCS 13-15)

Moderate (GCS 9-12)

Severe (GCS 3-8)

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14
Q

Diffuse injury (Concussion)

A
  • Brief disruption in LOC
  • Retrograde amnesia
  • Headache
  • Short duration
  • May result in postconcussion syndrome
  • may or may not lose total consciousness

if patient didn’t lose consciousness or it’s <5 min, patient is discharged

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15
Q

Focal Injury

A
  • Lacerations
  • contusions
  • hematomas
  • cranial nerve injuries
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16
Q

Post-concussion Syndrome

A

usually from 2 weeks to 2 months after injury

Persistent headache

Lethargy

Personality and behavior changes

Shortened attention span, decreased short-term memory

Changes in intellectual ability

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17
Q

Diffuse Axonal Injury (general)

A

MASSIVE TRAUMA TO BRAIN

  • widespread axonal damage from mild, mod., severe TBI
  • decreased LOC
  • increased ICP
  • decortication/ decerebration
  • global cerebral edema
  • about 90% remain in vegetable state
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18
Q

Lacerations

A
  • tearing of brain tissue
  • with depressed and open fractures and penetrating injuries
  • intracerebral hemorrhage- cerebral laceration. Manifested by unconsciousness, hemiplegia on contralateral side, and dilated pupil on ipsilateral side
  • subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • intraventricular hemorrhage
  • surgical repair is impossible
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19
Q

Medical management of lacerations

A

antibiotics until meningitis is ruled out

preventing secondary injury r/t ICP

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20
Q

Contusion (focal)

A

bruising of brain within a focal area

  • bruising of brain tissue
  • associated with closed head injury
  • can cause hemorrhage, infarction, necrosis, edema
  • frequently occurs at fracture site
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21
Q

Contusions (cont.)

A
  • can rebleed
  • focal & generalized manifestations
  • monitor for seizures (especially first 7 days)
  • potential for increased hemorrhage if on anticoags. (higher mortality rate)
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22
Q

Coup- Contrecoup injury

A

coup- primary impact

contrecoup- secondary impact, tend to be more serious

can range from minor to severe

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23
Q

Hematomas: Epidural, Subdural, Subarachnoid

A

dura matter is attached to skull

epidural- above dura matter

subdural- below dura matter

subarachnoid- under subdural and under arachnoid space

24
Q

Epidural Hematoma complications

A

bleeding between the dura and the inner surface of the skull

neuro. emergency

venous origin slow

arterial origin rapid

25
Q

Findings in Epidural Hematoma

A
  • initial period of unconsciousness (ask)
  • brief lucid interval followed by decrease LOC
  • headache, nausea, vomiting
  • focal findings
  • requires rapid evacuation (surgery/ drill hole)
26
Q

Glascow Coma Scale

A

Eye opening response

Best verbal response

Motor response

13-14: mild

9-12: mod

3-8 severe

27
Q

Eye opening response (4 is highest)

A

4- opens eyes spontaneously

3- opens eyes to speech

2- opens eyes to pain

1- no response

28
Q

Best Verbal Response (5 is highest)

A

5- oriented to time, place, and person

4- confused

3- inappropriate words

2- in-comprehensive sounds

1- no response

29
Q

Best Motor Response (6 is highest)

A

6- obeys commands

5- moves to localized pain

4- flexion withdrawal from pain

3- abnormal flexion (decortication)

2- abnormal extension (decerebrate)

1- no response

30
Q

Subdural Hematoma

A

bleeding between the dura mater and the arachnoid

  • most common source is the veins that drain the brain surface into the sagittal sinus
  • Can also be arterial
  • may be acute, subacute or chronic
31
Q

Subdural Hematoma manifestations

A
  • within 24 to 48 hours of the injury
  • symptoms r/t ICP
  • decreased LOC, headache
  • **ipsilateral pupil dilated and fixed if severe: ipsilateral means same side of body as injury
  • blunt force injuries that cause subdural hematomas cause sig. brain injury, increased cerebral edema. Prognosis is poor; morbidity and mortality are high
32
Q

Subacute vs. Chronic Hematoma

A

Subacute subdural Hematoma:

  • within 2 to 14 days of the injury (after initial bleeding)
  • may appear to enlarge over time

Chronic subdural hematoma

  • weeks or months after injury
  • more common in older adults (more space due to brain atrophy)
  • presents as focal symptoms
  • increased risk for misdiagnosis
  • ETOHers (due to clotting factors impaired, brain atrophy, falls)

sometimes symptoms are confused for stroke/ TIA. Symptoms are the same like; somnolence, confusion, lethargy, memory loss

33
Q

Intracerebral Hematoma

A
  • bleeding within brain tissue
  • usually within frontal and temporal lobes
  • sz and location of hematoma determine patient outcome
34
Q

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP)

A

ICP- amount of pressure in the brain and spinal fluid

CCP- amount of pressure required to get a sufficient enough amount of blood to the brain.

normal: 60-100 mg/hg

35
Q

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure and oxygenation

A

it is recommended to keep CPP between 50-70

too low may cause ischemia (60 to prevent oxygen desaturation)

too high may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome

increase in edema & tissue pressure → increase in ICP → decrease in CPP → decrease in CBF → increase in ischemia

36
Q

Cushing’s Triad (severe ICP)

A
  1. irregular, decreased respirations (caused by impaired brainstem function: cheyne-stokes)
  2. Bradycardia
  3. Systolic HTN (widening pulse pressure)

confusion will be evident

37
Q

Calculating Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

A

an unconscious patient with traumatic head injury has a BP of 170/80, ICP of 30 mmHg. what is CPP?

  • CPP- mean arterial pressure [MAP]- ICP
  • MAP = DBP x 2 + SBP divided by 3
  • 170 + 160 = 320 divided by 3 = 110 minus ICP of 30 = 80 mmHg
  • (target CPP 50-70 mmHg)
38
Q

Diagnostic Studies

A
  • ***CT scan: best test to determine initial extent of craniocerebral trauma
  • MRI, PET: more detailed
  • Evoked potential studies (measure brain activity)
  • Transcranial Doppler studies
  • Cervical spine x-ray, CT scan, MRI
  • GCS

diagnostic studies similar to ICP

39
Q

Nursing care for head injury

A
  • VS
  • BP
  • pulse
  • respiration

(think Cushing’s triad)

40
Q

Emergency Treatment for head injury (subdural hematoma)

A

***- patient airway

***- stabilize cervical spine

  • oxygen (administer via non-rebreather)
  • IV access (two large bore catheters NS/LR)
  • intubate if GCS <8
  • control external bleeding with sterile dressing
  • remove patient’s clothing but maintain warm
41
Q

Emergency treatment cont.

A
  • keep patient warm (warm IV, overhead lights, warm humidified O2)
  • ongoing monitoring (VS, LOC, O2 sats., cardiac rhythm, GCS, pupil sz and reactivity)
  • anticipate possible intubation
  • assume neck injury
  • administer fluids cautiously
42
Q

Tx PRINCIPALS

A
  • prevent secondary injury
  • timely diagnosis
  • surgery if necessary (craniectomy, or burr holes)
  • concussion and contusion: observation and ICP management
43
Q

Nursing Assessment (subjective)

A
  • mechanisms of injury
  • alcohol/ drug use; risk-taking behaviors
  • headache
  • mentation changes; impaired judgement
  • aphasia, dysphasia
  • fear, denial, anger, aggression, depression
  • ***anticoags. use
44
Q

Nursing Assessment (objective)

A
  • altered mental status
  • lacerations, contusion, abrasions
  • hematoma
  • Battle’s sign
  • Periorbital edema and ecchymosis
  • otorrhea
  • exposed brain
45
Q

Objective data cont. 1

A
  • rhinorrhea
  • impaired gag reflex
  • altered/ irregular respirations
  • Cushing’s triad
  • Vomiting
  • Bowel and bladder incontinence
46
Q

Objective data (cont. 2)

A
  • uninhibited sexual expression
  • altered LOC
  • seizures
  • pupil dysfunction (dilated pupils is a late sign)
  • cranial nerve deficits
  • increased ICP, high or low blood sugar, toxicology
47
Q

Objective date (cont. 3)

A
  • motor deficit
  • palmar drift
  • paralysis
  • spasticity
  • posturing
  • rigidity or flaccidity
  • ataxia; mimic being drunk
48
Q

Objective data (cont. 4)

A
  • abnormal CT scan or MRI; location, type of hematoma, edema, skull fracture, foreign body
  • abnormal EEG
  • positive toxicology screen or alcohol level
  • increased or decreased glucose level
  • increased ICP
49
Q

Manitol

A

it is an osmotic diuretic. decreased ICP

50
Q

Anisocoria

A

irregular pupils (different shapes or size)

51
Q

Overall Goals for head injury

A
  • maintain cerebral oxygenation & perfusion
  • remain normothermic
  • control pain and discomfort
  • free of infection
  • adequate nutrition
  • attain maximal cognitive, motor, and sensory function
52
Q

Acute Interventions

A
  • maintain cerebral perfusion
  • prevent secondary cerebral ischemia
  • monitor for changes in neuro. status
  • patient and family teaching
  • *** major focus of nursing care r/t ICP: to prevent shift of brain and herniation
  • eye problems: eye drops, compresses, patch
  • hyperthermia: goal 36 to 37 C, prevent shivering
53
Q

Acute interventions (cont. 1)

A

***acute interventions:

Measures for patients leaking CSF

  • head of bed elevated
  • loose collection pad
  • no sneezing or blowing nose
  • ***no NG tube
  • no nasotracheal suctioning

if rhinorrhea or otorrhea occur, notify provider immediately!

54
Q

Acute interventions (cont. 2)

A
  • measures for immobilized patients (bowel, bladder function, skin care, infection prevention)
  • antiemetics
  • analgesics
  • antibiotics
  • diuretics
  • pre-op preparation, if needed
55
Q

Ambulatory and Home Care

A
  • rehab: motor and sensory deficits, communication issues, memory and intellectual functioning, nutrition, bowel and bladder management
  • seizure disorders may occur
  • mental and emotional difficulties
  • progressive recovery
  • family participation and education
56
Q

first RED FLAG indicative of a problem

A

change LOC/ mental status

MED. SURG 2 (3 decks)

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