Levels of consciousness - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Conscious, locked in syndrome, persistent
vegetative state (no cognition, have sleep/wake cycles), akinetic mute syndrome (no purposeful
movements, eyes open and close refexively), Coma
Intracranial pressure must be less than ______ to still have adequate perfusion to brain - **
VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔40 mmHg
Systolic must be between _____ and ________ to have adequate perfusion to the brain - **
VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔50 and 150
If the body has increased ICP _______ will be triggered - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Cushing's
Reflex
What are the cardinal signs of Cushing's Reflex? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔High BP, low HR,
decreased LOC, and possibly decreased RR
What is the first concern when a patient becomes unconscious? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔A
patent airway
When a patient goes unconscious with increased ICP we want to ______ metabolic demand - **
VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔decrease metabolic demand on brain. May use hypothermic
environment. Reduce fever because of a fever's ability to increase metabolic demand
How would mannitol be used with patients with increased ICP? - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔✔Mannitol is a sugar that will increase the osmotic gradient thereby pulling fluid into the vessels
and will be discarded through urination
Contusion - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔bruising of the brain with tissue injury. Often happens
with an acceleration/ decelleration event
, Concussion - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Temporary loss of neurological function. No structural
damage or bruising to the brain. Typically no residual effects as long as enough healing time is
allowed and the concussions are not reoccurent
Epidural hemorrhage - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Usually a direct blow. Requires some type of
intervention which due to its accessibility is more easily treated
Subdural hemorrhage - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Usually a result of trauma, can be result of
aneurysm, can be acute and chronic.
Intracerebral - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Most complicated, usually inoperable, related to
intracerebral aneurysm or cancer. Cannot be fixed well
Management of head injuries - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Promote rest, little stimulation,
elevate head of bed to decrease intracranial pressure, give O2 (CO2 is a vasodilator), report presence
of CSF from nose or ears, provide calm environment, monitor fluid and electrolytes, provide
adequate fluids to perfuse brain, maintain safety and seizure precautions
Dilantin - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Drug of choice for seizure prophylaxis.
Why not give benzodyazapines to patient with head injury - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Benzos
may help but will also alter LOC and therefore it will be hard to tell what interventions are helping
and if the patient is having a change of status
Medications to give someone with a head injury - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Dilantin for seizure
prophylaxis. Stool softner so they are not bearing down and increases ICP. Diuretic to reduce ICP.
Antihypertensives. Diprovan used to slow the activity of the CNS and relax a patient. Often used
during anesthesia to relax the pt.
Causes of seizures - ** VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔✔Fever in children, hyperthermia, tumors,
malformaties, hypertension, injury, drug and alcohol withdrawl, allergies, electrolyte imbalances
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Fordenken. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $16.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.