Chapter 16: Disorders of Brain Function Patho Prep U

Manifestations of brain tumors are focal disturbances in brain function and increased ICP. What causes the focal disturbances manifested by brain tumors?

Brain edema and disturbances in blood flow

The parent of an infant who developed hydrocephalus while in utero is very concerned that the child will have significant intellectual dysfunction. The best response to the parent would be:

"Because the skull sutures are not fused there may be no brain damage."

The nurse is caring for a client who has received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The nurse's discharge planning should include education related to which interventions to prevent recurrent stroke? Select all that apply.

- Antiplatelet agents like warfarin therapy - Reduction of risk factors by controlling hypertension or diabetes - Monitoring for signs and symptoms of recurrence

The nurse assessing a client with a traumatic brain injury assesses for changes in which neurologic component? Select all that apply.

- Cognition - Level of consciousness - Motor function - Sensory function

A client with a traumatic brain injury has developed extreme cerebral edema. Which clinical manifestations of brain herniation correlate to upward herniation of the midbrain known as uncal herniation? Select all that apply.

- Deep coma - Respiratory rate of 8 with intermittent sighs - Bilateral small, fixed pupils

The nurse contacts the health care provider regarding a client's early signs of diminishing level of consciousness based on which manifestations? Select all that apply.

- Inattention - Disorientation - Blunted responsiveness

A nurse is teaching a client newly diagnosed with a seizure disorder. Which statement is most important for the nurse to provide regarding antiepileptic medications?

Antiepileptic medications should never be discontinued abruptly

The nurse is caring for a client with a brain tumor when the client begins to vomit. Which intervention should the nurse do first?

Assess for other signs/symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.

A teenager has been in a car accident and experienced an acceleration-deceleration head injury. Initially, the client was stable but then started to develop neurological signs/symptoms. The nurse caring for this client should be assessing for which type of possible complication?

Brain contusions and hematomas

Intracranial aneurysms that rupture cause subarachnoid hemorrhage in the client. How is the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage made?

CT scan

The nurse knows that which treatment plan listed below is most likely to be prescribed after a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head reveals a new-onset aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Craniotomy and clipping of the affected vessel

The nurse observes that the upper extremities of a client with a brain injury are abducted while the lower extremities are internally rotated. The nurse communicates which terminology during hand-off reporting?

Decorticate posturing

Excessive activity of the excitatory neurotransmitters and their receptor-mediated effects is the cause of which type of brain injury?

Excitotoxic

A family brings a client to the emergency department with increasing lethargy and disorientation. They think the client had a seizure on the drive over to the hospital. The client has been sick with a "cold virus" for the last few days. On admission, the client's temperature is 102°F (38.9°C). Which other clinical manifestations may lead to the diagnosis of encephalitis?

Impaired neck flexion resulting from muscle spasm

Following a head injury, a client is diagnosed with intracranial epidural hematoma. During the initial assessment, the client suddenly becomes unconscious. What additional clinical manifestations correlate with this diagnosis?

Ipsilateral pupil dilation

A client has developed hydrocephalus and asks the nurse what may have caused this to occur. The best response would be:

Overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid

The MRA scan of a client with a suspected stroke reports ruptured berry aneurysm. The nurse plans care for a client with:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

A client has been diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm and placed under close observation before treatment commences. Which pathophysiologic condition has contributed to this client's diagnosis?

Weakness in the muscular wall of an artery

For seizure disorders that do not respond to anticonvulsant medications, the option for surgical treatment exists. What is removed in the most common surgery for seizure disorders?

amygdala

Severe head trauma from a coup-contrecoup injury may result in which type of brain injury?

cerebral hematoma

A client has suffered a stroke that has affected his speech. The physician has identified the client as having expressive aphasia. Later in the day, the family asks the nurse to explain what this means. The most accurate response would be aphasia that is:

characterized by an inability to communicate spontaneously with ease or translate thoughts or ideas into meaningful speech or writing

The nurse is caring for a client with head trauma. The client is flexing the arms, wrists, and fingers. There is adduction of the upper extremities with internal rotation and plantar flexion of the lower extremities. How would the nurse describe this in the notes?

decorticate posturing

A child is being seen in the emergency department (ED) after ingesting crayons with lead in them. He is disoriented and having seizures. The provider suspects he has which of the following?

encephalitis

A high school student sustained a concussion during a football game. The school nurse will educate the family about postconcussion syndrome and ask them to watch for and report which manifestations of its presence?

headaches and poor concentration

A client has developed global ischemia of the brain. The nurse determines this is:

inadequate to meet the metabolic needs of the entire brain.

A parent brought her 8-year-old child to the emergent care center to be examined following a fall off a playground set, resulting in a head injury. On discharge, the nurse explains to the parent that some symptoms may continue, including the inability to remember what happened before the fall. Which term best describes the diagnosis?

retrograde amnesia

The nurse is assessing a client and notes the client is now displaying decerebrate posturing. The position would be documented as:

rigidity of the arms with palms of the hands turned away from the body and with stiffly extended legs and plantar flexion of the feet.

What term is used to describe a level of consciousness during which a client responds only to vigorous and repeated stimuli and has minimal or no spontaneous movement?

stupor

A client suffering a thrombotic stroke is brought into the emergency department by ambulance and the health care team is preparing to administer a synthetic tissue plasminogen activator for which purpose?

throbolysis

Which medication would be recommended for myoclonic seizures?

valproic acid

An older adult is brought to the emergency department after experiencing some confusion, slurred speech, and a weak arm. Now the client is back to acting normally. Suspecting a transient ischemic attack (TIA), the health care provider prescribes diagnostic testing looking for which cause of this episode?

Atherosclerotic lesions in cerebral vessels

The nurse is assessing a client who has experienced a seizure. The client describes having a feeling or warning that the seizure would occur. Which term does the nurse use when documenting about this perceived warning?

podrome

Which intracranial volume is most capable of compensating for increasing intracranial pressure?

Cerebrospinal fluid

The health care provider is concerned that a client may be at risk for problems with cerebral blood flow. The most important data to assess would be:

Decreased level of oxygen

A client with a history of a seizure disorder has been observed suddenly and repetitively patting his knee. After stopping this repetitive action, the client appears confused—he is oriented to person and place but not time. What type of seizure did this client most likely experience?

Focal seizure with impairment to consciousness

A client has started having uncontrolled seizures that are not responding to usual medications. Nurses working with the client must pay special attention to which priority aspects of this client's care? Assessment of:

Respiratory status and oxygen saturation

The chart of a client admitted because of seizures notes that the seizure activity began simultaneously in both cerebral hemispheres. The nurse should interpret this to mean that the client experienced:

generalized seizure