The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
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Intracranial pressure (ICP) is often obtained via external ventricular drain (EVD) placement and is discussed as a key vital sign in neuroscience. Nurses are most often delegated the task of observing, adjudicating, and documenting ICP. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage requires that the transducer connected to the EVD is open to drain, prohibiting ICP monitoring. ⋯ The conditional probability increased to 0.0402 if ICP is observed for 10 minutes. There were no instances of ICP elevation requiring intervention. The results suggest that at least 5 minutes of ICP monitoring is safe and is required to provide an ICP value that reflects true ICP.
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The use of anticoagulants and antithrombotic agents in the population is increasing as the population ages with a concomitant rise in chronic diseases such as atrial fibrillation. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with these agents is small but clinically significant. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how a single institution developed anticoagulation-associated ICH treatment guidelines. ⋯ ICH, either primary or traumatic, that is complicated by these agents must be rapidly recognized and appropriately treated. Use of a common, simple clinical practice guideline will assist clinicians in intervening rapidly for this patient group.
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Comparative Study
A Comparative Study of Glasgow Coma Scale and Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Scores for Predicting Long-Term Outcome After Brain Injury.
The aim of this study was to compare predictive ability of hospital Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and scores obtained using a novel coma scoring tool (the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness [FOUR] scale) on long-term outcomes among patients with traumatic brain injury. Preliminary research of the FOUR scale suggests that it is comparable with GCS for predicting mortality and functional outcome at hospital discharge. No research has investigated relationships between coma scores and outcome 12 months postinjury. ⋯ GCS and FOUR scores were comparable in bivariate associations with long-term outcome. Discharge coma scores performed best for both tools, with GCS discharge scores predictive in multivariate models.
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Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is a result of acute brain injury that has been well known for many decades. However, the evidence for management of PSH is almost entirely anecdotal in nature. We reviewed case reports or series of pharmacotherapy management of PSH. ⋯ However, a combination of medications from different classes seems the most effective approach in managing PSH symptoms. There is wide variability in clinical practice with regard to drug choices, dosing, and duration of therapy. Future research needs to be conducted using the new PSH assessment measure to appropriately apply drug management.
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The description of nursing roles and functions in rehabilitation of patients with stroke remains sparse. ⋯ An interdisciplinary rehabilitation program actively needs to include the patient by integrating the patient's perspective in the goals as well as in daily rehabilitation. In the team, nurses had the role of coordinator and the patient's voice.