Nursing Interventions for Cerebral Aneurysm
September 6, 2010 | In: Nursing Interventions
Nursing Interventions: Cerebral Aneurysm
- Establish and maintain a patent airway as needed.
- Administer supplemental oxygen as ordered.
- Position the patient to promote pulmonary drainage and prevent upper airway obstruction.
- Avoid placing the patient in the prone position as well as hyperextending his neck.
- Suction secretions from the airway as necessary to prevent hypoxia and vasodilation from carbon dioxide accumulation.
- Monitor pulse oximetry levels and arterial blood gas level as ordered. Use these levels as a guide to determine appropriate needs for supplemental oxygen.
- Prepare the patient for emergency craniotomy, if indicated.
- If surgery can’t be performed immediately, institute aneurysm precautions to minimize the risk of rebleeding and to avoid increasing the patient’s intracranial pressure.
- Administer hydralazine or another antihypertensive agent as ordered.
- Turn the patient often. Encourage deep breathing and leg movement.
- Apply elastic stockings or compression boots to the patient’s legs to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
- Give fluids as ordered and monitor I.V. infusions to avoid overhydration, which may increase ICP.
- If the patient has facial weakness, assist him during meals; assess his gag reflex and place the food in the unaffected side of his mouth.
- Implement a bowel elimination program based on previous habits.
- Raise the bed’s side rails to protect the patient from injury.
- Provide emotional support to the patient and his family.