Nursing Care and Pathophysiology of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Overview Chronic obstruction of airflow due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis Pathophysiology: COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. In a healthy individual air sacs are elastic and expand as the person inhales. When the healthy individual exhales the air sacs will then deflate. In COPD the air […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Asthma
Pathophysiology: Asthma is a respiratory condition with chronic inflammation of the bronchioles and bronchoconstriction. This causes airway restriction. Asthma attacks are caused by triggers such as infections, allergens, exercise, and other irritants. Overview Inflammatory disorder of airways Stimulated by triggers (infection, allergens, exercise, irritants) Status Asthmaticus – life-threatening condition Asthma unresponsive to treatment Nursing Points […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cirrhosis (Liver Disease, Hepatic encephalopathy, Portal Hypertension, Esophageal Varices)
Pathophysiology: Cirrhosis is late state liver fibrosis. It causes the normal blood flow to slow through the liver. This increases the pressure in the vein that carried blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver. This increased pressure in the portal vein will cause fluid to back up and accumulate in the legs and […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hepatitis (Liver Disease)
Pathophysiology: Inflammation of the liver that is caused by viral hepatitis, alcohol, autoimmune or some medication. This attacks cells of the liver and causes inflammation of the liver as an immune response. Overview Inflammation of liver Severity varies from mild cases with liver cell regeneration (self-limiting) to severe cases with hepatic necrosis and cell death […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Cholecystitis
Pathophysiology: Inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder holds bile, that is released into the small intestine. When the bile duct between the gallbladder and small intestine is blocked, the bile becomes trapped and causes the inflammation. Overview Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder. Nursing Points General Causes Cholelithiasis (gallstones) Duct obstruction Infection Gallbladder stores […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Pneumothorax & Hemothorax
Pathophysiology: Pneumothorax- A trauma occurs to the pleural space and air accumulates within the space. This puts positive pressure in a space that is normally filled with negative pressure. The air within the space compresses and collapses the lung. Hemothorax- B Blood collects in the pleural cavity (the space between the chest wall and the […]
Blunt Chest Trauma
Overview Blunt Chest Trauma Motor Vehicle Collision Fall from height Hit by something in chest Explosion – shock wave Nursing Points General Complication Rib Fractures Flail Chest Pulmonary Contusions Pneumothorax Hemothorax Assessment Rib Fractures Pain with Inspiration Shallow Breathing ↓ SpO2 Atelectasis on X-ray Pneumonia development Flail Chest Multiple fractures on same rib → “floating” […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Ischemic Stroke (CVA)
Pathophysiology: An ischemic stroke is when there is a loss of blood circulating to an area of the brain. This can occur because blood flow is blocked by a blood clot. Overview Lack of blood flow to brain tissue caused by blood clot in cerebral vessels. Nursing Points General Pathophysiology Blood clot in vessel in […]
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hemorrhagic Stroke (CVA)
Pathophysiology: A vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain. This puts pressure and blood on the brain as the blood accumulates. This can be caused by a weakened vessel such as in an aneurysm. Overview Lack of blood flow to brain tissue caused by bleeding in/around brain. Nursing Points General Pathophysiology Bleed in/around brain due […]
Miscellaneous Nerve Disorders
Overview Other disorders can affect the nervous system, both in the CNS and the PNS Nursing Points General Trigeminal Neuralgia Damage to 5th cranial nerve Tumor, Multiple Sclerosis, Trauma Bell’s Palsy Sudden weakness in muscles on half of face Commonly caused by virus → swelling around facial nerve Guillain-Barre Autoimmune disorder attacks PNS Commonly caused […]