Diabetes Insipidus Case Study (60 min)
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Outline
Mrs. Ford is a 32 year old female who was admitted to the neuro ICU two days ago after a fall, which caused a large epidural hematoma over the left parietal lobe. She was intubated due to a low level of consciousness to protect her airway. An External Ventricular Drain (EVD) was placed to monitor her ICP. She also has an orogastric tube, and a Foley catheter in place
You just started your shift, what nursing assessments will be your priority at this point?
Mrs. Ford’s vital signs are as follows:
BP 124/68 MAP 86
HR 84 Temp 98.9
RR 16 (ventilated)
ICP 12
She is not on any sedation. You determine her GCS is 6, she withdraws to pain, but does not open her eyes. Her pupils are equal and reactive bilaterally, 4mm. For this hour she has put out 120 ml of urine that is clear and yellow. She is receiving normal saline at 75 mL/hour as well as tube feeds at 40 mL/hour. Her EVD is open at 15 cmH2O and draining a clear pink fluid, 6 ml this hour.
faq lesson=”true” blooms=”Application” question=”Calculate her cerebral perfusion pressure.”]
- CPP = MAP – ICP
- 86 – 12 = 74 mmHg [/faq]
Given the assessment information that you have, what are you most concerned for with this patient?
Hourly urine output for Mrs. Ford For the last 3 hours were 180 mL, 240 mL, and 440 mL. The urine is clear and barely pale yellow. Her blood pressure is 108/56, HR is 104. Her ICP is 15.
What could be going on physiologically with Mrs. Ford?
What further diagnostic testing do you expect the provider to order?
Lab Values:
Na+ 155 mg/dL
Serum osmo 310 mOsm/kg
Urine SG 1.005
Explain the significance of these lab values considering the patient's diagnosis.
What medications and or treatment changes do you expect the provider to order?
The provider orders the following:
Free water flush via OG Tube – 200 mL q4h
Change IVF to D5W at 125 mL/hr
Desmopressin (DDAVP) 2 mcg IV push q 12h
Daily weight
q4h Sodium and Serum Osmolality levels
You set the tube feeding pump to administer the free water and change the IV fluids while waiting for the DDAVP from the pharmacy
What regular monitoring will need to be done for Mrs. Ford during this treatment?
After 2 days of treatment, misses Fords urine output and urine specific gravity return to Baseline. However, she continues to have a GCS between 4 + 6, and now her left pupil is 8mm and fixed. The nurse notes her respiratory rate is erratic, her ICP is 18, and her heart rate is dropping.
What do you believe could be happening to Mrs. Ford at this time?
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Nursing Case Studies
This nursing case study course is designed to help nursing students build critical thinking. Each case study was written by experienced nurses with first hand knowledge of the “real-world” disease process. To help you increase your nursing clinical judgement (critical thinking), each case study includes answers laid out by Blooms Taxonomy to help you see that you are progressing to clinical analysis.
We encourage you to read the case study and really through the “critical thinking checks” as this is where the real learning occurs. If you get tripped up by a specific question, no worries, just dig into an associated lesson on the topic and reinforce your understanding. In the end, that is what nursing case studies are all about – growing in your clinical judgement.
