Preclinical
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Preclinical
Based on the information you have received in your client assignment, prepare for each weeks
clinical rotation by answering the following questions. You will be expected to be able to
respond concerning these aspects of preparation to your instructor and to plan your care
accordingly. Your ability to respond comprehensively will reflect your competence with respect
to standard #2 (knowledge) and #3 (application of knowledge)
Describe the pathophysiology of the disease(s) your client has.
Hematoma is a swelling or mass of blood (usually clotted) confined to an organ, tissue, or space and caused by a break in a blood vessel. Subdural means beneath the dura mater (the outer membrane covering the spinal cord and brain). A subdural hematoma is located beneath the membrane covering the brain and is usually the result of head injuries or the shaking of a small child or infant. It may result in loss of consciousness, seizures, mental or physical damage, or death.
Subdural hematomas are most frequently the result of a head injury. They can occur spontaneously in the elderly, but this is less common. Traumatic subdural hematomas are among the most lethal of all head injuries.
Subdural hematomas are seen in approximately 15% of all head traumas. Tiny “bridging veins” that run between the surface of the brain and its outer covering (dura) stretch and tear, allowing blood to collect. These veins rupture because of the sudden change in velocity of the head during the trauma.
Acute, subacute, and chronic are all adjectives used to describe subdural hematomas and reflect the time course of the collection of blood. Traumatic acute subdural hematomas carry the highest risk to the patient, with a mortality rate of greater than 50% in most studies.
Risks include:
Head injury
Very young or very old age
Anticoagulant medication (blood thinners)
Chronic alcohol use
What are the signs and symptoms?
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Subdural hematoma includes those listed below. Note that Subdural hematoma symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Subdural hematoma signs may refer to those signs only noticeable
by a doctor:
Symptoms of acute subdural hematoma: – causing sudden onset of various symptoms:
Paralysis
Raised intracranial pressure
Vomiting
Severe headaches
Seizures
Symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma:
Persistent headaches
Drowsiness
Confusion
Muscle weakness
One-sided muscle weakness
Paralysis
Enlarged head circumference – in babies
More symptoms of Subdural hematoma: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Subdural hematoma, underlying causes of Subdural hematoma, associated conditions for Subdural hematoma, risk factors for Subdural hematoma, or other related conditions.
.Given the pathophysiology