Nursing 213

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide

2.3 Injuries and Disorders that cause Neurological Dysfunction Brain Tumor Brain tumors are lesions on the brain. They do not have any known cause, but could arise from a healed head injury, exposure to radiation, electromagnetic fields, or people could be genetically predisposed to them. Brain tumors have many types including pituitary and pineal, gliomas, blood vessels, meningiomas, and vascular tumors. Brain tumors lie within the intracranial space and form from brain cells, secondary to other conditions in the brain or metastatic cancer from elsewhere in the body. The interesting thing is brain tumors can be from cancer outside of the brain, but when they are brain cancer themselves they most often do not leave the intracranial area to other parts of the body (metastasize). This is because the blood-brain barrier and the central nervous system are closed up. Brain tumors cause swelling in the brain from pressure placed on the brain tissue and blood vessels. The cerebral edema causes the intracranial pressure (ICP) to rise, which is the main cause of death from brain tumors. They also cause neurological dysfunction and issues with the pituitary gland. Signs and symptoms of brain tumor: • Hypoxia • Headache • ICP over 10mm/hg • Nausea • Vomiting • Papilledema • Confusion • Loss of consciousness • Disorientation • Lethargy • Giddiness • Sluggish or fixed pupils • Weakness • Paralysis • Hearing changes • Dizziness • Paresthesia • Speech changes • Ataxia vision changes • Seizures • Incontinence fatigue • Nystagmus Signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (Cushing’s Triad): • Slowed respirations • Bradycardia • Wide pulse-pressure Nursing assessment for brain tumor: • Head to toe general assessment o Glasgow coma scale; note scores o Level of consciousness, mental status, and emotional changes

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