Question

Can someone tell me the complications and safety for hemorrhagic stroke? this is for a pathophysiology class

Answer 1

complications and safety:

1. Delirium- It is a state of mental confusion that occurs due to illness, surgery, certain medications or drug abuse. It is common in post stroke due to damage to the brain cells.

Use confusion assessment method to diagnose delirium as early as possible.

Environment should be soothing, quite, comfortable, safe and non threatening.

2. Deep vein thrombosis- Blood clot in deep veins mainly in legs occurs because of immobility and increased prothrombotic activity.

Early diagnosis by Doppler ultrasonography, venography, MRI

Early ambulation, hydration, graduated compression stockings, intermittent pneumotic compressions

3. Aspiration pneumonia- Neurological injury due hemorrhagic stroke causes impaired swallowing which leads to aspiration pneumonia.

Assess swallowing ability of the patient

Provide tube feeding, arrange exercise classes with speech language pathologist to regain swallowing ability

4. Hydrocephalus- Inflammation and apoptosis of brain cells after hemorrhagic stroke causes fibrosis and blockage of cerebro spinal fluid in ventricles and altered reabsorption of CSF in subarachnoid granulations leads to hydrocephalus.

Perform ventricular drainage like ventriculo peritoneal shunt as early as possible.

5. Seizure- Hemorrhagic stroke causes injury to the brain cells which leads to formation of scar tissue. This scar tissue causes disruption in electrical activity of the brain leads to seizure.

Start prophylactic antiseizure drugs as early as possible after identifies the risk for seizure.

Recognize seizure symptoms

Keep patient in side lying position while seizure attack, remove all sharp instruments from bed side, loosen the cloths around neck, don't try to put anything in mouth.