308 Adult Flashcards
(199 cards)
X-linked recessive disorders (eg, hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy)
most often affect male offspring
Cystic fibrosis
autosomal recessive inheritance pattern = offspring must receive two abnormal genes (one from each parent)
thiamine intake for alcohol use
Poor thiamine intake and/or absorption can lead to Wernicke encephalopathy, a serious complication that manifests as altered mental status, oculomotor dysfunction, and ataxia.
Spinal immobilization
NSAIDs:
N - Neurological examination. Focal deficits include numbness and decreased strength.
S - Significant traumatic mechanism of injury
A - Alertness. The client may be disoriented or have an altered level of consciousness
I - Intoxication. The client could have impaired decision-making ability or lack awareness of pain
D - Distracting injury. Another significant injury could distract the client from spinal pain.
S - Spinal examination. Point tenderness over the spine or neck pain on movement (if there is no midline tenderness) may be present
lumbar puncture
sitting or left side-lying position with the knees drawn up (ie, fetal position)
insertion of a needle into the vertebral space to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis of color, content, and pressure
L3-4 or L4-5
The client may experience pain radiating down the leg during the procedure, but it should be temporary.
Valsalva maneuver
holding the breath while bearing down and contracting the abdominal muscles (eg, straining during defecation)
simulates the vasovagal response, causing
-bradycardia
-decreased CO
-hypotension
-provokes dysrhythmias.
facilitates voiding, equalizes ear pressure, treats supraventricular tachycardia, and is an adjunctive technique to avoid an air embolism when a line (eg, central venous access device) or drain is removed
contraindicated:
Clients with glaucoma or recent eye surgery (eg, cataract surgery) because straining increases intraocular pressure
Clients unable to hemodynamically compensate due to certain heart conditions (eg, heart failure, myocardial infarction) When the client relaxes, blood flow rapidly returns to the heart. If the heart is unable to compensate for the blood flow increase, fatal complications can occur.
Clients recently diagnosed with increased intracranial pressure, stroke, or a head injury. Straining increases intraabdominal and intrathoracic pressure, which raises the intracranial pressure.
Clients with portal hypertension related to cirrhosis. Straining should be avoided due to the risk of variceal bleeding induced by increased pressure
Coup-contrecoup head injuries
common in motor vehicle accidents and shaken baby syndrome
Damage to the occipital lobe =visual disturbances.
the frontal lobe - primary impact (coup). =Executive function, memory, speech (Broca area), and voluntary movement are controlled by the frontal lobe
ischemic stroke +
Permissive hypertension
maintaining a compensatory elevation in blood pressure (BP), typically for the first 24 hours following ischemic stroke, to promote cerebral perfusion
maintains a systolic BP ≥170 mm Hg
Permissive hypertension usually autocorrects and does not require treatment unless extreme hypertension occurs (eg, systolic BP >220 mm Hg).
Neurogenic shock
Overwhelming parasympathetic stimulation:
Bradycardia
Hypotension
Impaired temperature regulation
Decreased CO
Neurogenic shock is a type of distributive shock that occurs most commonly after a cervical or high thoracic spinal cord injury. The injury causes a loss of sympathetic stimulation, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system to take over.
Bell palsy
peripheral, unilateral facial paralysis characterized by inflammation of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) in the absence of a stroke or another causative agent/disease
Inability to smile symmetrically
Loss of forehead and brow movements
Decreased lacrimation (ie, tear production)
Inability to close the affected eye completely
Loss of nasolabial folds and drooping of the lower lip
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig disease)
progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord
S/s:
fatigue
progressive muscle weakness,
twitching and muscle spasms,
difficulty swallowing
difficulty speaking
respiratory failure
Most clients survive only 3-5 years after the diagnosis as there is no cure.
symptom management:
Respiratory support with noninvasive positive pressure (eg, bilevel positive airway pressure [BiPAP]) or invasive mechanical ventilation (eg, via tracheostomy)
Feeding tube for enteral nutrition
Medications to decrease symptoms (eg, spasms, uncontrolled secretions, dyspnea)
Mobility assistive devices (eg, walker, wheelchair)
Communication assistive devices (eg, alphabet boards, specialized computers)
arteriovenous malformation
a tangle of veins and arteries that is believed to form during embryonic development
The tangled vessels do not have a capillary bed, causing them to become weak and dilated
AVMs are usually found in the brain and can cause seizures, headaches, and neurologic deficits
blood pressure control is crucial
high risk for having an intracranial bleed
Any neurologic changes, sudden severe headache, nausea, and vomiting should be evaluated immediately as these are usually the first symptoms of a hemorrhage
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Aspiration pneumonia
Respiratory failure
Cardiac arrhythmias
Pressure injuries
Venous thromboembolism
Ileus
follows a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection that triggers an immune response => peripheral nerve inflammation.
S/s:
ascending, symmetric muscle paralysis and areflexia (ie, absence of reflexes) that can eventually progress to involve the thorax and cranial nerves
monitor for the following findings:
Blood pressure variability: Autonomic dysfunction is common in GBS and can cause blood pressure/heart rate instability, leading to hypertension, hypotension, or dysrhythmias
Decreased respiratory rate and depth: These occur when ascending muscle weakness progresses to the thorax. The nurse should monitor for signs of respiratory distress (eg, decreased capillary oxygen saturation, hypoventilation, breathlessness while speaking, labored breathing) and be prepared for intubation if the client is unable to independently ventilate due to thoracic muscle paralysis
Difficulty swallowing: Paralysis and weakness of the cranial nerves make eating and swallowing difficult, increasing the risk for aspiration pneumonia. In addition, difficulty swallowing may be a warning sign of impending respiratory compromise.
Urinary retention: This occurs secondary to autonomic dysfunction. Clients with GBS may need temporary intermittent urinary catheterization
Motor function of the eyes
cranial nerves III, IV, and VI.
Oculomotor (III)
Trochlear (IV)
Abducens (VI)
3,4,6
Trigeminal neuralgia
excruciating, unilateral facial pain along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve that is often triggered by touch, talking, or hot/cold intake.
The condition is not life-threatening.
Epidural hematoma
arterial bleeding
initial loss of consciousness, then a period of lucidity followed by a rapid decline in neurologic function
Bell palsy
idiopathic, unilateral facial paralysis caused by inflammation of the facial nerve.
Treatment includes corticosteroids and protection of the eye (which may not close tightly).
Bell palsy often resolves after several months as inflammation subsides.
Aspiration pneumonia
Thicken liquids (eg, to nectar or honey consistency) for clients with dysphagia
Ensure that the client is fully awake before eating. The nurse should time the administration of sedating medications (eg, opioids, benzodiazepines) to avoid sedation during meals
Elevate the head of the bed to 90 degrees during and for 30 minutes after meals, and never place the head of the bed lower than 30 degrees
Encourage clients to facilitate swallowing by flexing the neck (chin to chest)
Administer prescribed antiemetics (eg, ondansetron) as needed to prevent vomiting.
Monitor for coughing, gagging, and pocketing food.
cerebellum
coordination of voluntary movements and maintenance of balance and posture.
Balance is assessed with heel-to-toe gait testing.
Coordination is assessed with finger tapping, rapid alternating movements, finger-to-nose testing, and heel-to-shin testing.
Epilepsy
chronic seizure activity
lifelong anticonvulsant medication
Phenytoin (Dilantin), a hydantoin anticonvulsant, may decrease the effectiveness of some medications (eg, oral contraceptives, warfarin) due to stimulation of hepatic metabolism
discuss pregnancy plans with their health care provider, as phenytoin can cause fetal abnormalities (eg, cleft palate, heart malformations, bleeding disorders)
avoiding seizure triggers:
excessive alcohol intake, sleep deprivation, and stress
Anticonvulsants should not be stopped abruptly
practicing good oral hygiene as gingival hyperplasia is a potential complication
Delirium
an acute, usually reversible change in mentation due to an underlying cause (eg, lack of sleep, hypoxia, medications)
S/s
may fluctuate between hyperactivity (eg, paranoia, aggression, hostility) and hypoactivity (eg, decreased level of consciousness).
Difficulty sustaining attention despite continued efforts to reorient and redirect the client
Disorganized speech accompanied by impaired memory and executive function
Fluctuating levels of consciousness (eg, acute change from drowsy to combative)
Precipitating factors include:
Hypoxia
Acute infection (eg, urinary tract infection)
Fever
Electrolyte imbalances (eg, hyponatremia)
Sleep deprivation
Dehydration or malnutrition
Metabolic disorders (eg, hypoglycemia)
Medications (eg, opioids, benzodiazepines)
prevent wandering in
Alzheimer disease
install a door sensor to alert family members
seizure
uncontrolled electrical discharge in the brain
4 phases:
- prodromal (pre-seizure warning signs),
- aural (preseizure sensory changes)
- ictal (active seizure activity)
- postictal (postseizure). During the postictal phase, the client may experience confusion and/or a headache.
autonomic dysreflexia
T6 and up
uncompensated sympathetic nervous system stimulation.
S/s:
hypertension (up to 300 mm Hg systolic),
throbbing headache,
diaphoresis above the level of injury, bradycardia (30-40/min),
piloerection (“goose bumps”), flushing, and nausea
HOB elevated 45 degrees or high Fowler’s to lower blood pressure
bladder irritation due to distention.
The client needs to be catheterized or the possibility of a kink in the existing catheter must be assessed
Bowel impaction can also be a cause; a digital rectal examination should be performed.
Constrictive clothing should be removed to decrease skin stimulation