Nursing interventions
The treatment for hydrocephalus
What is surgery? (with a few exceptions)
When performing a neurological assessment on these patients what should you be looking for in the pupils?
What is monitoring for pupillary dilation?
Nausea, vomiting, headaches, difficulty arousing/ sleepy
What are symptoms of increased ICP that the parents should be looking for?
You should NOT place the IV here when preparing your patient for surgery
What is the scalp?
If during your assessment your patient is difficult to arouse this could be a sign of
What is increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
rapid head growth, bulging fontanelles
What are symptoms that parents should look for in early infancy?
You should position your patient post-operatively to avoid
What is pressure on the shunt valve?
A post-operative complication noted by abdominal distension
What is peritonitis or a post-op ileus?
community agencies, The National Hydrocephalus Foundation (NHF)
What are resources that parents should be made aware of in their community?
This is the position your patient should remain in post-op
What is supine?
The greatest post-op complication after VP shunt placement
What is infection?
parents will verbalize their understanding of the signs and symptoms for increased ICP
What is the parents providing teach back to the nurse for the signs and symptoms of increased ICP?