Brain Injury/ICP

What are the components of ICP?

What is the normal ICP range?

What are the two requirements for the brain?

What is the most important assessment for increasing ICP?
What are other findings?

What can increase ICP?

Increase or Decrease for aggravating factors of:
PCO2
PO2
pH

What osmotic diuretic draws fluid out of the brain tissue?

What is associtated with a dural tear and has signs of CSF leakage from the nose or ear?

Epidural Hematoma:
Where's the bleed?
Arterial or Venous?
Progression?
Treatment?

Subdural Hematoma:
Where's the bleed?
Arterial or Venous?
Progression?
Treatment?

Subdural Hematoma:
Acute vs Subacute vs Chronic

Emergent care for head injuries?

What are the primary brain tumors?

What is the diagnostic test of choice for a brain tumor?
What is the surgery treatment of choice?

What is the priority assessment for post craniotomy?

What is the function of Dexamethasone (Decadron) in a post craniotomy?

Brudzinski's Sign vs Kernig's Sign

A 42y/o male is in the neuro ICU after a closed head injury. The patient's blood pressure is 150/90. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Notify the physician
B) Document the finding and continue to observe the patient
C) Administer Nifedipine per protocol to lower the BP
D) Lay the patient flat to decrease the BP

A 58y/o female is on the neurology ward after a craniotomy for brain tumor resection. Whic of the following assessments is the MOST important for the nurse to make?

A) Skin condition
B) Condition of the incision
C) Pupillary reaction
D) Level of consciousness

The nurse is caring for a patient with increased ICP. Which of the following assessments is MOST significant?
A) Serum Sodium of 119 mEq/dl
B) Hemoglobin of 11 g/dl
C) White Blood Cell Count 13,000
D) Serum Potassium of 3.4 mEq/dl