QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
ICP- Increased Intracranial Pressure - CORRECT ANSWER Force or pressure
measured in brain/CSF compartment
What is an abnormal ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER Sustained ICP >20
What factors affect ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER Changes in temperature,
arterial/venous pressure, intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure, posture.
What causes increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER Head injury
Brain Injury
Hematoma
Stroke
Cerebral edema
What does cerebral blood flow regulate? - CORRECT ANSWER Maintains perfusion
pressure within normal limits
What affects cerebral blood flow? - CORRECT ANSWER Systemic blood pressure-
- Increased BP -> Vessel vasoconstriction -> decreased blood flow to brain
Hypoxia- normal PaO2= 80-100
Accumulation of lactic acid
How do you calculate cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)? - CORRECT
ANSWER CPP= MAP - ICP
Normal = 60-100
<50 associated with ischemia and neuron death
Minimum MAP to maintain CBF= 70
,What do you assess when assessing increased ICP?
ASSESSMENTS - CORRECT ANSWER Respiratory rate & Pattern
Glasgow coma scale
- Lowest score =3
-INTUBATE IF LESS THAN 8
Pupils
Eye mvmt
Extremity strength
Vitals- BP, RR, HR, TEMP
What labs are you trending?
LABS/DIAGNOSTICS - CORRECT ANSWER CT scan- #1 fastest test
ICP- EVD
CBC- WBC (inc. risk of infection), H&H
Coagulation profile (PT/INR)- if patient is clotting too fast then there could be too much
blood in the brain.
Electrolytes- Sodium
Serum Osmolality- blood concentration- check before giving mannitol (PRIORITY)
Serum Creatinine
ABG- acidosis=vasodilation
CSF analysis
What is a normal WBC? - CORRECT ANSWER 4,500-11,00
What is a normal hemoglobin? - CORRECT ANSWER 12-17.5
What is a normal hematocrit? - CORRECT ANSWER 36-50%
, What is a normal PT/INR? - CORRECT ANSWER 11-13.5 seconds/0.8-1.2
What is a normal sodium? - CORRECT ANSWER 135-145 mEq/L
What is a normal serum osmolality? - CORRECT ANSWER 275-295 mOsm/kg
What is a normal serum creatinine? - CORRECT ANSWER Males: 0.74 to 1.35 mg/dL
(61.9 to 114.9 µmol/L)
Females: 0.59 to 1.04 mg/dL (52.2 to 91.9 µmol/L
What are early signs and symptoms of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER Change
in level of consciousness:irritability, restless. Altered mental status.
- These are normally the first sign
Change in motor ability
Unexpected vomiting
Ocular changes
What are late signs and symptoms of increased ICP? - CORRECT ANSWER Body
posturing
Vital sign changes- CUSHINGS TRIAD
- Increased BP
- Bradycardia
- Irregular respirations
The critical care nurse provides care for a client who is admitted for the treatment of head
trauma and prescribed mannitol to reduce intracranial pressure. Which electrolyte is the
priority for the nurse to monitor?
Potassium
Chloride