NSG 533 Exam 4 Study Guide
Tonsillar Herniation
(Ans- cerebellum thru foramen magnum; kills by resp/cv depression
Meningitis
(Ans- inflammation of the meninges covering brain and spinal cord
viral meningitis
(Ans- aseptic meningitis; lower mortality rate; 90% enteroviruses:
coxsackie virus, echo virus, fecal /oral route, respiratory: peak in summer
and fall months
Bacterial Meningitis
(Ans- inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and
spinal cord caused by various types of bacteria. Life threatening
neurological emergency; patients can present in septic shock; endotoxin
and inflammatory mediators initiate a CSF inflammatory response and
edema formation; see increased ICP, reduction in cerebral perfusion and/or
brain death
encephalitis
(Ans- inflammation of the brain (usually by virus, herpes)
Myelitis
(Ans- infection/inflammation of the spinal cord
ventriculitis
(Ans- inflammation of the ventricles of the brain
Neisseria meningitidis
(Ans- bacteria; common cause for meningitis in adults
,H. influenzae
(Ans- bacteria; common cause for meningitis in neonates
Viral CSF
(Ans- normal glucose, normal/high protein, few mononuclear cells
Bacterial CSF
(Ans- low glucose, high protein, many mononuclear cells
Infectious Signs of Meningitis
(Ans- Fever, tachycardia, chills
meningeal irritation signs
(Ans- severe throbbing headache, severe photophobia, nuchal rigidity,
positive kernigs/brudzinski signs
Neurologic signs of meningitis
(Ans- Focal signs, ↓ in consciousness, CN palsies, seizures
seizure
(Ans- sudden, transient disturbances in brain function resulting from an
abnormal firing of nerve impulses d/t increased excitatory synaptic
neurotransmitters (glutamate++, aspartate); Ionic excitation with inflow of
Na, Ca+++ may or may not be associated with convulsion
Hippocampal sclerosis
(Ans- temporal lobe epilepsy; loss of neurons in Ammon's horn of the
hippocampus; unclear cause possibly related to birth or early childhood
trauma or multiple seizures; elevated glutamate causes damage
temporal lobe epilepsy
(Ans- seizures begin in the temporal lobe of the brain; refractory to
treatment; due to HS, tumor, cortical dysplasia, vascular malformations or
unable to determine
, simple partial seizure
(Ans- a partial seizure, starting from a focus and remaining localized, that
does not produce loss of consciousness: motor or sensory
Simple complex seizure
(Ans- partial seizure that may produce loss of consciousness; temporal
lobe origin or causes secondary generalization
Generalized seizures
(Ans- a seizure that affects both sides of the brain; tonic clonic, absence,
myoclonic, infantile spasm, atonic, lennox gestaut syndrome
Ischemic Stroke
(Ans- a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is
blocked; possibly from a blood clot in the brain; will immediately see brain
tissue damage or death
Cardioembolic stroke
(Ans- Ischemic stroke - Thrombus develops in heart - atrium, ventricle, or
valve - detaches and embolizes
May have multiple embolic events - affect multiple vessels
Associated w/ atrial fibrillation, Risk of conversion to Ischemic Stroke
Treatment - anticoagulants, prevent recurrent clot formation
hemorrhagic stroke
(Ans- occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures; also
known as a bleed; hypertension related small vessel disease is number 1
cause
Normal
pH
PaCO2
PaO2
(Ans- 7.35-7.45; 35-45