Nursing HDP401 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Abnormal Posturing, Prefrontal Cortex, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
13 Mar 2018
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Extracranial causes: metabolic changes hypoglycemia, uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis, hepatitis and hypothyroidism, respiratory problems leading to hypoxia, drug intoxication alcohol, opiates and barbiturates, carbon monoxide poisoning, shock cardiogenic, septic, hyperthermia. No cerebral cortex functioning: decorticate posturing flexion at the elbows, wrists, and fingers, rigid adduction of the upper arms and the internal rotation and extension of the legs. Pons and medulla become involved: loss of control over cvs and respiratory functions and the individual becomes apneustic (apnea) and requires mechanical ventilation. Death and clinical death: difficult to precisely define biologically, legally and in religious terms, technology aloows us to maintain critical body functions when there is no brain function, clinical death involves the absence of vital signs. No measurable respiratory and cardiac activity and no movement. Vegetative state: level of brain damage loss of all awareness and higher cotex function, brainstem still functioning so vital signs are maintained. Individual may recover some level of consciousness but with impairment.
