What will you monitor for with a patient that has a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
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What will you monitor for with a patient that has a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Brain swelling and hydrocephalus Bleeding from a subarachnoid hemorrhage can cause swelling of the brain, which can be life threatening. Monitoring of the brain’s pressure is important for any patient with symptoms of significant brain swelling.
What are the after effects of a brain hemorrhage?
The bleeding prevents the nerve cells from communicating with other parts of the body and resuming normal function. Common problems after a brain hemorrhage include movement, speech, or memory issues. Depending on the location of a hemorrhage and the damage that occurs, some complications may be permanent.
What is the typical clinical presentation of a patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Classic presentation. The central feature of classic SAH is sudden onset of severe headache (thunderclap headache), often described as the “worst headache of my life.” Less severe hemorrhages may cause headache of moderate intensity, neck pain, and nonspecific symptoms.
What happens after a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Recovery and prognosis are highly variable and largely dependent on the severity of the initial SAH. In general, one-third of patients who suffer a SAH will survive with good recovery; one-third will survive with a disability or stroke; and one-third will die.
What are the treatment priorities in subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Treatment initially focuses on stabilizing your condition. If your bleeding is caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm, your doctor might recommend: Surgery. The surgeon makes an incision in your scalp and locates the brain aneurysm.
Can a subarachnoid hemorrhage cause memory loss?
Cognitive dysfunction is a common complication of a subarachnoid haemorrhage, affecting most people to some degree. Cognitive dysfunction can take a number of forms, such as: problems with memory – memories before the haemorrhage are normally not affected, but you may have problems remembering new information or facts.
Why is nimodipine used for SAH?
Nimodipine is used to decrease problems due to a certain type of bleeding in the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage-SAH). Nimodipine is called a calcium channel blocker. The body naturally responds to bleeding by narrowing the blood vessel to slow blood flow.
When should nimodipine be given?
Nimodipine comes as a capsule and an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth or be given through a feeding tube. It is usually taken every 4 hours for 21 days in a row. Treatment with nimodipine should be started as soon as possible, no later than 96 hours after a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs.