Practical Nursing PNP301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Tachycardia, Hydrocephalus, Central Nervous System

• School: Seneca College
• Department: Practical Nursing
• Course: Practical Nursing PNP301
• Professor: m

Document Summary

This maintains a normal pressure inside the cranial cavity. The brain is encased in a rigid, non- expandable skull any in fluid or mass causes an increase in brain pressure. Increased intracranial pressure: arterial (cid:271)lood (cid:272)a(cid:374) e(cid:374)ter the (cid:862)high pressure(cid:863) area i(cid:374) the (cid:271)rai(cid:374), a(cid:374)d e(cid:448)e(cid:374)tuall(cid:455) the brain tissue itself is compressed, the function of the neurons, both locally. The patient becomes more lethargic/stuporous, reacting only to loud auditory or painful stimuli. At this stage, serious impairment of brain circulation is probably taking place, and immediate intervention is required. As neurologic function deteriorates further, the patient becomes: comatose abnormal motor responses: decorticate or decerebrate posture. Pressure on the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve iii) affects the size and response of the pupils. and generally. Causes of increases icp: usually one pupil ipsilateral to the lesion becomes fixed (unresponsive to light) and dilated, with an increased pressure, both pupils (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)e fi(cid:454)ed a(cid:374)d dilated (cid:894)(cid:862)(cid:271)lo(cid:449)(cid:374)(cid:863)(cid:895)