Term
| This type of head injury (in adults) is usually a slow bleed but in kids it is an emergency because this particular space is so small. |
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Definition
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Term
| Headache, Irritability, Drowsy, N/V |
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Definition
| Ominous signs for kids with head injuries are: |
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Term
| Their scalps are more maliable. |
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Definition
| Why do we see less skull fractures in kids under the age of 5? |
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Term
| What signs and symptoms should parents watch out for when their child is discharged from hospital following head injury? |
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Definition
| Aggressive behavior, headache, N/V |
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Term
| Kids with head injuries, in what time frame after the injury do we see what all deficits may occur? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why are kids only on prophylactic anticonvulsant medication for a short period (1 -2 weeks) of time following a head injury. |
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Definition
| Hard to maintain therapeutic levels for medication |
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Term
After head injuries kids are more susceptible to sodium imbalances- this particular one manifests as:
High Urine Output, High Urine Osmolality, Hyponatremia, Hypovolemia, Hypotension. |
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Definition
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Term
| This sodium imbalance causes copious amounts of urine, hypernatremia. We give DDAVP for this to prevent dehydration. |
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Definition
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Term
| This sodium imbalance causes Low Urine Output, Low Concentrated Urine, and Hyponatremia. |
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Definition
SIADH
(We treat this with 3% NS thru a PICC line) |
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Term
| What nursing actions are common, in kids with head injuries, because kids are so susceptible to sodium imbalances? |
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Definition
Maintain sodium levels to 150, watch I and O's,
NO hypotonic fluid |
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Term
| For every ONE degree Celsius increase in a kids temperature, it increases their cerebral metabolic rate by what percent? |
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Definition
5%
(for this reason avoid FEVERS)
(a fever is 100.4 or greater) |
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Term
| In what age do kids use D/B the metabolic rate and D/B the amount of O2? |
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Definition
newborn - 6 y/o
(another reason to prevent fevers) |
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Term
| What type of head injury do see fewer of in children because their meningeal artery is embedded in skull and is not torn as often. |
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Definition
Epidural Hematomas
(In adults the meningeal artery is torn with causes severe, fast bleeds) |
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Term
| Toddlers have big, heavy heads and are pretty unstable on their feet, for this reason they are more susceptible to what type of head injury? |
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Definition
coup contrecup or acceleration/deceleration or polar injury
(all same) |
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Term
| Why are toddlers more likely to bleed to death from a severe scalp laceration? |
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Definition
They have big heads (more surface area) and
Very Vascular Heads! |
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Term
| A 14 y/o girl is on the unit, she appears to be having a seizure, you know because of her age and the phycological stress she is under, she is at risk for what? |
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Definition
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