NUR 254 Increased ICP

NUR 254 Increased ICP

• What causes increased ICP?

Answer

• Tumors
• Trauma
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Extra fluid/swelling (CSF)

• What happens as pressure increases in the brain?

Answer Brain gets pushed down into the foramen magnum (hernia) and crushes the brain stem (which will cause death)

• What are doll's eyes?

Answer When the eyes don't move freely and follow the position of the head

• What is decorticate posturing? (to the core)

Answer Elbows, wrists and fingers flexed, and legs extended and rotated inward (damage above brainstem)

• What is decerebrate posturing?

Answer Head arched back, wrists and fingers extend- ed by the sides, and the legs feet are extended (damage to brainstem)

• What is the glasgow coma scale based on? (Max to min score)

Answer

• Best eye response (4) 1 / 2

• Best verbal response (5)
• Best motor response (6)
• 15 to 3
• < 8 is consistent with significant altered LOC (coma)

• What is lethargic?

Answer Sluggish, sleepy, fatigued

• What is stuporous?

Answer Generally unresponsive; may be briefly aroused by vigorous, repeated, or painful stimuli

• What is obtunded?

Answer Responsive to verbal or tactile stimuli but quickly drifts back to sleep

• What is comatose?

Answer Unarousable; will not stir or moan in response to any stimulus

• What happens when there is cerebral vasodilation?

Answer Fluid collects in the skull

• Why does respiratory acidosis cause increased ICP?

Answer Increased CO2 causes vasodilation

• What is the treatment for O2 related increased ICP?

Answer Pt should be intubated and hyperventilated (causes mild resp. alkalosis = vasoconstrict cerbral blood vessels)

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