System Specific Effects of Therapeutic Hypothermia with Neonatal Encephalopathy: Pearls for Clinicians.

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is defined as a condition of impaired neurological function often caused by a peripartum event that impairs gas exchange resulting in hypoxia, hypercapnia, cerebral ischemia, and metabolic acidosis. NE is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care for the treatment of moderate and severe NE and has significantly improved long-term outcomes for affected infants. There are extensive systemic physiologic effects associated with TH that clinicians need to be aware of to optimize care for these infants. There is a paucity of literature that comprehensively identifies causal relationships between the physiologic and biochemical effects of TH. This can leave neonatal clinicians devoid of a comprehensive understanding of the medical management of NE. Therefore, this article seeks to help fill this gap, improve clinician knowledge base, and ultimately improve the care of infants undergoing TH.

Rapid evidence assessment of approaches to community neurological nursing care for people with neurological conditions post-discharge from acute care hospital.

Neurological conditions represent leading causes of non-fatal burden of disease that will consume a large proportion of projected healthcare expenditure. Inconsistent access to integrated healthcare and other services for people with long-term neurological conditions stresses acute care services. The purpose of this rapid evidence assessment, conducted February-June 2016, was to review the evidence supporting community neurological nursing approaches for patients with neurological conditions post-discharge from acute care hospitals. CINAHL Plus with Full Text and MEDLINE were searched for English-language studies published January 2000 to June 2016. Data were extracted using a purpose-designed protocol. Studies describing community neurological nursing care services post-discharge for adults with stroke, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease were included and their quality was assessed. Two qualitative and three quantitative studies were reviewed. Two themes were identified in the narrative summary of findings: (i) continuity of care and self-management and (ii) variable impact on clinical or impairment outcomes. There was low quality evidence of patient satisfaction, improved patient social activity, depression scores, stroke knowledge and lifestyle modification associated with post-discharge care by neurological nurses as an intervention. There were few studies and weak evidence supporting the use of neurology-generalist nurses to promote continuity of care for people with long-term or progressive, long-term neurological conditions post-discharge from acute care hospital. Further research is needed to provide role clarity to facilitate comparative studies and evaluations of the effectiveness of community neurological nursing models of care.

Preventing Long-term Poor Outcomes in the Bariatric Patient Postoperatively.

The obesity epidemic in America continues to rise. People are desperately trying to find ways to lose weight successfully and keep the weight off, and many people are turning to bariatric surgery as the only remaining option for morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery is considered to be a viable treatment option for morbid obesity. However, long-term data are revealing that many postsurgical bariatric patients are regaining the weight after 5 years. The purpose of lifelong follow-up appointments in the bariatric patient is to prevent weight regain and poor outcomes. A case study is used as an example for a poor outcome in a postsurgical bariatric patient. The author of this article provides definitions related to postsurgical bariatric patients, explains the value of early detection and prevention, provides an example of a poor outcome, and concludes with a discussion of evidence-based practice changes that prevent poor outcomes.

Assessment of satisfaction with care and decision-making among English and Spanish-speaking family members of neuroscience ICU patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients' and family members' experiences of hospital care are important indicators of quality. "Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients are more at risk than White patients for decreased satisfaction with care." In addition, of any of these groups, Hispanic patients were most likely to report a lack of patient-centered care. In the intensive care setting, (ICU) previous research has indicated that the needs and satisfaction of family members of neurological ICU patients are different from those of family members of other types of ICU patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any differences between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking family members of patients in a neurological ICU. METHODS: This study was a single center prospective study conducted over a 10-month period from April 2013 to February 2014 in the 18-bed neuroscience ICU of a large, urban, academic medical center. The Family Satisfaction with ICU (FS-ICU) questionnaire was used; it provides an overall score and has two factors: satisfaction with care and satisfaction with decision-making. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance between the two groups in overall satisfaction or in satisfaction with care, however Spanish-speakers (n=22) were significantly less satisfied (p=.04) than English-speakers (n=50) with decision-making. There were three other discreet variables in which Spanish-speakers were also less satisfied: (a) management of patients' pain (OR 3.16, 95% CI [1.12, 8.9]) (b) management of patients' breathlessness (OR 3.5, 95% CI [1.23, 9.96]) as well as (c) ease of getting information (OR 3.25, 95% CI [1.09, 9.64]). CONCLUSION: Using a standardized survey it was found that Spanish-speakers were statistically less satisfied with decision-making than English-speakers. Additionally, Spanish-speakers were statistically less satisfied with management of patients' pain and breathlessness and ease of getting information. Based on these findings, increased vigilance is recommended regarding decision-making processes of Hispanic-families, especially with regard to provision of information.

Pérdida visual no orgánica monocular secundaria a traumatismo craneoencefálico / Monocular non-organic visual loss after a cranioencephalic trauma

No disponible

Ventilación no invasiva con presión de soporte con volumen asegurado en un paciente con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) agudizada / No disponible

El paciente con EPOC exacerbado y encefalopatía hipercápnica puede plantear serios problemas al tratarle con ventilación mecánica no invasiva (VMNI). Aun no siendo una contraindicación para la VMNI, la falta de colaboración puede ser motivo de fracaso de la técnica. En la actualidad disponemos de modos ventilatorios limitados por presión que aseguran el volumen corriente aportado al paciente. El modo presión de soporte con volumen asegurado (AVAPS) nos ofrece esta opción. Existen pocas publicaciones sobre el uso de esta modalidad ventilatoria en la situación de fallo respiratorio agudo hipercápnico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con EPOC exacerbado en situación de encefalopatía hipercápnica, tratado con éxito con este modo ventilatorio

The patient with exacerbated COPD and hypercapnic encephalopathy may pose serious problems regarding treatment with non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV). Although no contraindication has been found for NIMV, lack of collaboration may be a reason for failure of the technique. We currently have ventilatory methods limited by the pressure that ensures the tidal volume provided to the patient. The average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS) offers us this option. There are few publications on the use of this ventilatory modality when there is acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. We present the case of a male patient with exacerbated COPD with hypercapnic encephalopathy who was successfully treated with this ventilatory mode

Secondary insults related to nursing interventions in neurointensive care: a descriptive pilot study.

The patients at a neurointensive care unit are frequently cared for in many ways, day and night. The aim of this study was to investigate the amount of secondary insults related to oral care, repositioning, endotracheal suctioning, hygienic measures, and simultaneous interventions at a neurointensive care unit with standardized care and maximum attention on avoiding secondary insults. The definition of a secondary insult was intracranial pressure > 20 mm Hg, cerebral perfusion pressure < 60 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg for 5 minutes or more in a 10-minute period starting from when the nursing intervention began. The insult minutes did not have to be consecutive. The study included 18 patients, seven women and 11 men, aged 36-76 years with different neurosurgical diagnoses. The total number of nursing interventions analyzed was 1,717. The most common kind of secondary insults after a nursing measure was high intracranial pressure (n = 93) followed by low cerebral perfusion pressure (n = 43) and low systolic blood pressure (n = 14). Repositioning (n = 39) and simultaneous interventions (n = 32) were the nursing interventions causing most secondary insults. There were substantial variations between the patients; only one patient had no secondary insult. There were, overall, a limited number of secondary insults related to nursing interventions when a standardized management protocol system was applied to reduce the occurrence of secondary insults. Patients with an increased risk of secondary insults should be recognized, and their care and treatment should be carefully planned and performed to avoid secondary insults.

End-tidal carbon dioxide as a measure of stress response to clustered nursing interventions in neurologic patients.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend rest periods between nursing interventions for patients with a neurologic diagnosis but do not specify a safe number of interventions. OBJECTIVES: To examine the physiological stress response to clustered nursing interventions in neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Prospective, comparative, descriptive design to examine effects of clustered interventions (≥6 interventions in a single nursing interaction) versus nonclustered interventions on patients' stress. Stress response was defined as a 10% change in end-tidal carbon dioxide from before the interaction to (1) 5 and 10 minutes after the start of the interaction, (2) at the end of the interaction, and (3) 15 minutes after the interaction. RESULTS: The mean percent change in end-tidal carbon dioxide at 5 minutes differed significantly between patients with clustered interventions and patients with nonclustered interventions (6.7% vs -0.2%; P = .001). Patients with clustered interventions were significantly more likely than patients with low clustering to exhibit a stress response at 5 minutes (24.3% vs 0%; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation who experienced 6 or more clustered nursing interventions showed a higher mean change in end-tidal carbon dioxide than did patients who received fewer than 6 clustered interventions. These findings suggest that providing fewer interventions during 1 nursing interaction may minimize induced stress in neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring in critically ill patients: indications, limitations, and strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Continuous electroencephalography as a bedside monitor of cerebral activity has been used in a range of critically ill patients. This review compiles the indications, limitations, and strategies for continuous electroencephalography in the ICU. DATA SOURCE: The authors searched the electronic MEDLINE database. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: References from articles of special interest were selected. DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSION: Electroencephalographically-defined suppression is routinely used as the basis for titration of pharmacologic therapy in refractory status epilepticus and intracranial hypertension. The increasing use of continuous electroencephalography reveals a clinically underappreciated burden of epileptiform and epileptic activity in patients with primary acute neurologic disorders, and also in critically ill patients with acquired encephalopathy. Status epilepticus is reported with continuous electroencephalography in 1% to 10% of patients with ischemic stroke, 8% to 14% with traumatic brain injury, 10% to 14% with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 1% to 21% with intracerebral hemorrhage, and 30% of patients following cardiorespiratory arrest. These figures underscore the importance of continuous electroencephalography in the critically ill. The interpretation of continuous electroencephalography in the ICU is challenged by electroencephalography artifacts and the frequent subtle differences between ictal and interictal patterns.

The implications of genomics on the nursing care of adults with neuropsychiatric conditions.

PURPOSE: Neuropsychiatric disorders contribute substantially to disease burden and quality of life across the lifespan and the globe. The purpose of this article is to review the state of the science regarding genomic contributions to selected common neuropsychiatric conditions and to examine the consequent immediate and future implications for nursing practice and research. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: Our work is guided by an ecological model that recognizes that common diseases are complex or multifactorial, meaning that multiple genomic and environmental factors contribute to their etiology. METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted to determine the state of the science in relationship to the genomic contributions to selected neuropsychiatric disorders. FINDINGS: Neuropsychiatric conditions are genomically heterogeneous, both within a single disorder and across groups of disorders. While recent genomic research yields clinically validated and useful information for a small subset of persons (e.g., predictive genetic testing for Huntington disease and early-onset Alzheimer disease), broad clinical application of genetic information is not yet available. In addition, the implications of genomics for the development and targeting of nonpharmacologic treatment strategies is largely unexplored. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to expand knowledge beyond genomic risk for the presence of disease to knowledge about the genomic risk for symptoms, symptom burden, and tailored symptom management interventions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge about the genomic influences on neuropsychiatric conditions suggests important implications for practicing nurses in the identification of persons at risk, provision of follow-up support, and in the administration of medications.

Electric versus manual tooth brushing among neuroscience ICU patients: is it safe?

BACKGROUND: Poor oral hygiene has been associated with ventilator-acquired pneumonia. Yet providing oral care for intubated patients is problematic. Furthermore, concerns that oral care could raise intracranial pressure (ICP) may cause nurses to use foam swabs to provide oral hygiene rather than tooth brushing as recommended by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Evidence is needed to support the safety of toothbrushing during oral care. We therefore evaluated ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) during oral care with a manual or electric toothbrush in intubated patients in a neuroscience intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: As part of a larger 2-year, prospective, randomized clinical trial, 47 adult neuroscience ICU patients with an ICP monitor received oral care with a manual or electric toothbrush. ICP and CPP were recorded before, during, and after oral care over the first 72 h of admission. RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in age, gender, or severity of injury. Of 807 ICP and CPP measurements obtained before, during, and after oral care, there were no significant differences in ICP (P = 0.72) or CPP (P = 0.68) between toothbrush methods. Analysis of pooled data from both groups revealed a significant difference across the three time points (Wilks' lambda, 12.56; P < 0.001; partial η(2), 0.36). ICP increased significantly (mean difference, 1.7 mm Hg) from before to during oral care (P = 0.001) and decreased significantly (mean difference, 2.1 mm Hg) from during to after oral care (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of preexisting intracranial hypertension during oral care, tooth brushing, regardless of method, was safely performed in intubated neuroscience ICU patients.

The nurse's role in treatment decisions for the child with neurological impairment.

Healthcare providers are often faced with ethical dilemmas when making treatment decisions for a child with neurological impairment. Problems may stem from the fact that the wishes of the family may be in opposition to what the healthcare team feels is in the best interest of the child. There are many factors that need to be considered when determining treatment options for the child with neurological impairment. Nurses are in a unique position to advocate for the involvement of the child's family in making these difficult decisions.

[Neurologically critical patient. Nurses' care]. / Paciente neurocrítico. Cuidados de enfermería.

Handling a neurologically critical patient requires some necessary knowledge and aptitudes in order to avoid risks and complications which could worsen a patient's prognosis. To that end, in this article the author deals with two important points nursing personnel need to bear in mind: the distinct methods and catheters which can be used to monitor intracranial pressure, obtaining an important parameter for evaluation purposes and therapeutic follow-up on these patients, placing special emphasis on ventricular drainage and nursing care, and the operations nurses take when dealing with patients who present a risk of intracranial hypertension, setting up a protocol based on seven necessities in the Virginia Henderson model: breathing, elimination, temperature, hygiene and skin, feeding and hydration, mobility and safety. In each of these necessities, the author studies the problems these patients present, identifying them with a series of diagnoses according to NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association), and defining the care or nursing activities for each of them, which will prove essential to prevent cerebral ischemia after suffering a primary cerebral injury due to a "TCE"(Cranial Encephalic Trauma) hemorrhage, etc. Nurses' role in caring for neurologically critical patients proves to be of vital importance since these professionals must be capable of evaluating, preventing, controlling and identifying those risk situations which neurologically critical patients could present, avoiding possible complications, aiding their recuperation, and providing quality health care.

Intravascular temperature modulation in the neurosurgical critical care unit.

A new technology for intravascular temperature modulation increasingly is being used for severely ill neurosurgical patients in tertiary care centers in the United States. The goal of this intervention is to minimize secondary brain injury. Because a 1 degrees C temperature reduction reduces cerebral metabolic demand by 10%, an efficient means of both lowering and maintaining optimal body temperature is crucial. The CoolGard intravascular catheter can lower body temperature at the rate of 3-4 degrees C per hour and maintain a steady state via feedback from a bladder catheter thermistor.