Brain anatomy & Brain anatomy & physiology physiology and Neurological and Neurological Assessment Assessment James Bitmead James Bitmead (Clinical Practice (Clinical Practice Facilitator, UCLH) Facilitator, UCLH) Angela Roots Angela Roots (Practice Development Nurse, (Practice Development Nurse, GSTT) GSTT)
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Brain anatomy & physiology and Neurological Assessment
Brain anatomy & physiology and Neurological Assessment. James Bitmead (Clinical Practice Facilitator, UCLH) Angela Roots (Practice Development Nurse, GSTT). What is a stroke?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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James Bitmead James Bitmead (Clinical Practice Facilitator, UCLH)(Clinical Practice Facilitator, UCLH)
Angela RootsAngela Roots(Practice Development Nurse, GSTT)(Practice Development Nurse, GSTT)
What is a stroke?What is a stroke?
interruption of the blood supply to the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, caused by a blocked or burst blood brain, caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel…cuts off the supply of oxygen and vessel…cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue. (World Health Organisation 2010) tissue. (World Health Organisation 2010)
Aetiology of StrokeAetiology of Stroke
Cerebral infarction/ischaemicCerebral infarction/ischaemic 81% 81% Intracerebral haemorrhageIntracerebral haemorrhage 13%13%Subarachnoid haemorrhageSubarachnoid haemorrhage 6%6%Risk of recurrence within 5 years Risk of recurrence within 5 years 30-30-
40% (Stroke Association 2010)40% (Stroke Association 2010)
Broca; Broca; control the control the muscles of the larynx, muscles of the larynx, pharynx and mouth pharynx and mouth that enable us to that enable us to speakspeak
Wernicke’s areaWernicke’s area, , injury here may result injury here may result in receptive in receptive dysphasia.dysphasia.
Contra-lateral ControlContra-lateral Control
Blood Supply to the BrainBlood Supply to the Brain
AVPU – what does this mean?AVPU – what does this mean?Blood sugarBlood sugarPupilsPupilsThen move onto GCS and full neuro Then move onto GCS and full neuro
assessmentassessment
Illustration of GCSIllustration of GCS
The Glasgow Coma ScaleThe Glasgow Coma Scale
The eye opening category is performed The eye opening category is performed once the patient is fully awake not beforeonce the patient is fully awake not before
The verbal category means a verbal The verbal category means a verbal response – the patient has to verbally response – the patient has to verbally indicate their orientation to time, place and indicate their orientation to time, place and person to be orientatedperson to be orientated
Mute dysphasic patients cannot score 5 on Mute dysphasic patients cannot score 5 on the verbal categorythe verbal category
The Glasgow Coma ScaleThe Glasgow Coma Scale
The motor response is best done without The motor response is best done without the patient copying your action – truly the patient copying your action – truly obeying command not copying!obeying command not copying!
Score the GCS in your documentation as Score the GCS in your documentation as GCS=15 E 4 V 5 M6GCS=15 E 4 V 5 M6
MRC limb power gradingMRC limb power grading
5= full strength5= full strength4=able to move against resistance but 4=able to move against resistance but
easily overcomeeasily overcome3= able to move against gravity but not 3= able to move against gravity but not
resistanceresistance2= able to move but not against gravity2= able to move but not against gravity1= flicker1= flicker0= no movement0= no movement
Neurological assessmentNeurological assessmentScore the patient as you see them – no Score the patient as you see them – no
guessing or backdating the resultsguessing or backdating the results If they do not meet one criteria move down If they do not meet one criteria move down
the score to the next onethe score to the next oneAlways start the assessment with the Always start the assessment with the
patient as awake as possible (even at patient as awake as possible (even at 2am)2am)
Changing GCSChanging GCS If patient looks different to the GCS If patient looks different to the GCS
scoring do a set of obs together at hand scoring do a set of obs together at hand overover
Consistency with using the neuro. Obs is Consistency with using the neuro. Obs is vital to detecting changes in the patientsvital to detecting changes in the patients
Don’t forget to spot other changes like Don’t forget to spot other changes like increasing confusion even if the GCS increasing confusion even if the GCS hasn’t yet changedhasn’t yet changed
Patterns of change in GCSPatterns of change in GCS
Dropping obviously!Dropping obviously!Fluctuating widely – could it represent Fluctuating widely – could it represent
seizure (sub-clinically)seizure (sub-clinically) Increasing difficulty in obtaining the same Increasing difficulty in obtaining the same
GCSGCSSmall changes within the category – e.g. Small changes within the category – e.g.
confused but worsening confusion, obeys confused but worsening confusion, obeys some commands but not otherssome commands but not others
Vital signs changes- will come to laterVital signs changes- will come to later
ESCALATE!!!!ESCALATE!!!!
If you are concerned at all, do not be afraid If you are concerned at all, do not be afraid to escalate!!!!!to escalate!!!!!
Band 6Band 6Site Nurse PractitionerSite Nurse PractitionerConsultant oncallConsultant oncall