Increased Intracranial Pressure Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the normal intracranial pressure range?
5-15mm Hg
What are the common causes of ICP?
Trauma, hemorrhage, edema tumors
What do you assess? ____ ____ ____
Level of conscious
It decreases as ICP increases.
This is the earliest sign of ICP
Decreased level of consciousness
The client will often appear?
Restless, agitated, complaining of head aches
What will babies physically present with?
Bulging fontanelles
Late signs of ICP are?
Unilateral pupil dilation, hypotention, bradycardia
Client may complain of ____ ____ ___ ____
Projectile vomiting without nausea
How will the vital signs appear with ICP?`
B/P (up), Temp (up), Resp (up then down), Heart rate (up)
What is widening pulse pressure and how is it related?
When systolic blood pressure goes up and diastolic continues to go down so that they become further apart (e.g., 135/40 is a bad sign!)
What is Cushing’s Triad?
Three things; widening pulse pressure, Cheyne stokes respirations, and bradycardia
Initiate____ precautions
Seizure
Elevate head of bed to?
10 to 30 degress, to promote jugular venous outflow
What medications will be prescribed?
Anticonvulsants
Blood pressure medications
Corticosteroids
Diuretics
Tell the client not to ____ _____ ____ or ____
Strain, cough, or sneeze
Nursing interventions would be to?
Decrease environmental
stimuli. Maintain body temperature. Limit fluid intake.
Monitor intake and output
