Analysis of Cerebral Hemorrhage and Hypertension: A Nursing Case Study

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Case Study
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This case study presents the case of Mr. X, a 60-year-old male diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage and hypertension. The assignment details his medical history, including a history of hypertension, smoking, and alcohol use, and his presenting symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, and weakness. The case study outlines the diagnostic tests performed, including a non-contrast head CT scan, and the patient's vital signs. The pathophysiology of cerebral hemorrhage is discussed, including the causes and types of hemorrhage (extra-axial and intra-axial). The case study further examines the impact of atherosclerosis and hypertension on the development of cerebral hemorrhage. Nursing interventions are proposed, focusing on monitoring neurological status, assessing blood pressure, and providing interventions to improve cerebral perfusion. The case study includes SMART goals for the patient's care and rationale for the nursing interventions. The patient's non-compliance with prescribed diets and medications is highlighted as a contributing factor to his condition.
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Cerebral hemorrhage and hypertension

Student’s name

Institutional
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A.
Background
Case presentation

Mr. X a 60 year old male driver from Australia, married and having six children the youngest

being twenty years old, retired driver (was a driver) and cigarette smoker was admitted to the

nursing unit from his physician’s office. He was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage and

hypertension. He complained of a severe headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness on the arm

and the leg, trouble with vision and swallowing. Three months ago he was treated with

hypertension, with a blood pressure of 170/100 and a reduced urine creatinine removal. He

complained of headache and blurred vision. He was recommended three months therapy which

included diet restriction such as avoidance of food with high cholesterol did not show a response

to the blood pressure elevation. His medical history showed that he had not been complying with

reduced sodium, cholesterol diet and medication that were prescribed to him. His social history

showed that he has been an alcohol addict and smoked five cigarette per day. An emergent non-

contrast head computed tomography showed a left frontal cerebral hemorrhage.

Signs and symptoms

Mr. X was admitted to the hospital complaining of the following sign and symptoms

-
Severe headache
-
Nausea and vomiting
-
Weakness on the arm and leg
-
Trouble with vision and swallowing
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Physical exam

The client was examined and his vital signs were as follows. Temperature of 36.9, blood pressure

of 155/133 mmHg, pulse 69, respiratory rate of 20 and oxygen saturation of 94 %. Both lungs

were clear during bilateral auscultation. The client had a normal heart rate with a regular S1 and

S2. There was no murmurs and the abdomen was soft with normal bowel sounds. In the

peripheral areas there was no sign of edema. Glasgow coma scale was done and the result was a

fifteen. He had a best eye response (E4), he was oriented to date and place (V5). He had a fluent

speech, his eye were reactive to light bilaterally.

Medical history

Mr. X was diagnosed with hypertension three months ago and he was given the following drugs.

Diuretics example hydrochlorothiazide so as to reduce the blood volume and cardiac output.

Adrenergic agents’ example clonidine hydrochloride which affects the central nervous system

leading to a reduction in blood pressure. Vasodilator example hydralazine hydrochloride which

reduces resistance in the periphery.

Diagnostic test results

Patient
Control
White blood cell
9.7 4-11
Hemoglobin
10.4 11.5-15.5
Platelets
231 150-450
Creatinine
2.34 0.5-1.2mg/dl
Blood urea nitrogen
54 6-20 mg/dl
Potassium
4.4 3.5-5.5 mmol/l
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Albumin
3.4/7.2
Alanine aminotransferase/

Asparate aminotransferase

19/34
Up to 33U/L
Bilirubin
0.39 Up to 1.1 mg/dl
blood glucose
199
pH
7.46
partial pressure of carbon

dioxide

30-4

Bicarbonate
19.5
Medication

-
Albumin, IV dose: 100u
-
Hydrocortisone, IV dose: 50mg
-
Cloxascillin, IV dose: 19m
-
Phenytoin, IV dose: 100mg
-
Levophed IV dose
Pathophysiology

Brain hemorrhage is defined as bleeding around the brain, it is either caused by raptured

aneurysm also known as hemorrhagic stroke or head trauma. Brain hemorrhage is divided into

two types, extra-axial hemorrhage meaning outside the brain tissue and intra-axial hemorrhage
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which is within the brain tissue. Extra-axial bleeding is also known as intracranial bleeding, this

is the bleeding within the skull. Examples of the extra-axial bleeding include the epidural,

subdural and subarachnoid. Intra-axial hemorrhage include the intracerebral hemorrhage and

intraventricular hemorrhage.

Extra-axial hemorrhage is bleeding that occurs within the skull but outside the brain tissue. An

epidural hemorrhage is a hemorrhage that occurs between the skull and the dura membrane. It’s

often as a result of trauma to the head. The bleeding that occurs between the dura and the skull is

often from the middle meningeal artery. Clinical manifestation include altered consciousness,

headache, vomiting, confusion and aphagia. Subdural hemorrhage is the hemorrhage that occurs

below the dura matter. The hemorrhage occurs between the dura matter and the sub-arachnoid

membrane. The source of blood is often from the bridging veins. Clinical manifestation of

subdural hemorrhage are the same are those occurring in epidural hemorrhage. The final type of

extra-axial hemorrhage is the subarachnoid. The bleeding occurs mostly in the subarachnoid

space. It is often as a result of the cerebral artery specifically an aneurism within the artery. The

most common cause, is a rapture of a saculam type of an aneurism which leads to subarachnoid

hemorrhage. The clinical manifestation are the same as those mentioned above except that in

subarachnoid hemorrhage there is a sudden severe headache, loss of consciousness and

meningismus. Causes of epidural hematoma include head trauma such motor vehicle accident,

falls and assault.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is divided into two, lobam hemorrhage which is the hemorrhage that

occurs on specific lobes in the brain, thalamic hemorrhage which is the hemorrhage that occurs

in the thalamus pontine hemorrhage which is the hemorrhage that occurs in the pons and lastly
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cerebellar hemorrhage which occurs in the cerebellar. Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most

common cause of stroke.

Cerebral atherosclerosis leads to a condition known as hypertension which is defined as a

systolic blood pressure of more than 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of more than 90mmHg

over a long period of time. Cerebral atherosclerosis is caused by several factors. First, high levels

of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood which destroys the endothelium. Second, high blood

pressure which is caused by two forces the first is the pressure created by the heart as it pumps

blood and the other is resistance in the arteries during blood flow. The harder it is for the blood

to flow, the higher the blood pressure. This rapid increase of blood pressure damages the arteries.

The third and the last is cigarette smoking. Tobacco particles exacerbate atherosclerosis in the

following ways, the tobacco smoke contains toxins which reduce high density lipoprotein while

increasing the levels of low density lipoproteins. Carbon monoxide and nicotine found in

cigarette smoke destroys the endothelium increasing the risk of plaque formation. Lastly is high

blood pressure, smoking by a hypertensive person may increase the risk for malignant

hypertension which is a life threatening form of high blood pressure. Atherosclerosis is

characterized by fat deposit known as atheroma that infringe on the lumen of the large arteries in

the brain. Macrophages which develop from T lymphocytes and monocytes infiltrate the area and

eat away the lipids and then die. This causes the proliferation of the smooth muscle cell forming

a dead fatty core. This plaque causes an obstruction in the blood flow due to narrowing.

Tiny arteries take blood to deep areas in the brain. High blood pressure causes the rapture of the

thin walled arteries releasing blood into the tissues. The clotted blood which is enclosed in the

rigid skull causes the buildup of fluid which leads to an increase in pressure
(Demchuk and
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Buchan, 2014)
. The created pressure can compress the brain against the bone or cause a
herniation. The distributed blood in the tissue causes a decrease in blood supply in the arteries

called a stroke
(Alberts, Hademenos and latchaw, 2013). Blood cells contained within the clot die
releasing toxins which cause further damage to the brain cells around the hematoma.

A swelling occurs leading to a buildup pressure in the affected area. It’s caused by blood pools in

the brain due to blood vessel break. The blood pressure formed cannot be released out through

the bone, it pushes and compresses the brain causing damage. The damaged area of the brain

affects the body system. Individuals may go through loss of memory, lingering impairments, a

delay in reaction time and also death
.
Discussion of the pathophysiology

Mr. X lived a sedentary lifestyle which included, cigarette smoking and unhealthy diet which

included food with high cholesterol intake and sodium intake. This caused abnormal

accumulation of fats in the blood vessels leading to cerebral atherosclerosis
(Fredman and
Rosenman, 2015)
hence leading to intracerebral hemorrhage. Fat deposition causes narrowing of
the blood vessels which leads to a condition known as hypertension. Hypertension signs and

symptoms include severe headache and blurred vision as witnessed in Mr. X. The client never

complied with the doctors instructions on high cholesterol restriction and treatment therapy. His

main reason for not complying was that he had been busy with work all day. Since the

hypertension was left untreated for a long time it resulted to the collapsing of the thin arteries in

the brain leading to a release of blood into the brain tissues, leading to a condition known as

cerebral hemorrhage which was evidenced by severe headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness
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on the arm and leg, trouble with vision and swallowing and lastly an emergent non-contrast head

computed tomography which showed a left cerebral hemorrhage
(Pfohman and Criddle, 2015).
Brain hemorrhage is the leading cause of the severe headache due to the leaking cerebral

aneurism. The small arteries around the brain which deliver oxygen around the brain bulge and

form an aneurysm. The aneurism causes outflow blood to tissue which causes tissue irritation

hence the severe headache. Weakness in the arm and the leg is due to loss of voluntary motor

movements. Damage of motor neurons located in the opposite side of the brain is the leading

cause of weakness of the arm and the leg. Mr. X visual disturbance is due to damage of the

sensory pathways located between the eye and visual cortex. The high blood pressure of 155/133

is due narrowed arteries caused by accumulation of fat lipids in the blood vessel.
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Actual or Potential problem

1.
Ineffective cerebral perfusion related to bleeding evidenced by changes in vital signs
SMART nursing

goal(s)

a)
The client
will show

Improvemen

t cerebral

perfusion

within two

months

evidenced

by strong

peripheral

pulses and

vitals within

the normal

range.

Nursing interventions
Rationale Strategies to determine
effectiveness of actions
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1.
Check for alteration in
blood pressure by

comparing both readings

in both arms

Make sure the left
arm is has rested

at the heart level

The patient
should avoid

taking caffeine or

tobacco at least

one hour before

taking the

measurement

(Papakonstaninou

, 2016)
.
1.
A variation in blood
pressure may happen

when the vasomotor area

is injured. Blockage of

blood due to clot formation

may result to an increase in

intracranial pressure. If the

results show that there is

in readings of both arms

this will signify the

presence of a blockage in

subclavian artery
(Qureshi,
Tuhrim and Broderick,

2015)
.
Placing the clients arm at
the arms rest instead of

the right atrial level may

result to high blood

pressure values. This may

be important during the

diagnosis and later

treatment actions for

clients with hypertension.

Caffeine intake results to a
striking increase in blood

pressure since caffeine

blocks a hormone that

assists in the widening of

the arteries and it also

enhances the adrenaline

glands to release more

adrenaline which cause a

1.
Attains an
optimum cerebral

tissue perfusion

The patients
understands

the effects

caffeine and

tobacco in his

body

The client
attains a

normal blood

pressure

The clients
shows no sign

of standing

hypotension
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sudden increase in blood

pressure

(Papakonstaninou, 2016)
.
2.
The client attains a
normal

neurological status

The client
open his

eyes on

request

He follows
command

with

appropriat

e motor

response

The client
show no

evidence if

increased

intracrania

l pressure

The client
speaks

eloquently

The client
pupils

reacts

normally

to light

2.
Asses and check the
neurological status

Monitor pupils’ size,
reaction to light, and

equality.

Assess and document the
changes in vision and give

an account for blurred

vision and any change in

depth perception or visual

field.

Monitor the higher
functions which include

speech and if the patient

is alert

Check for factors that are
associated with the

client’s condition for

reduces cerebral

perfusion and risk for

increased intracranial

pressure.

2. It monitors the courses in the

degree of consciousness and a

possible raise in intracranial

pressure. It is useful in finding the

position, extension and the

progress of damage
(Marmarou
and Butcher, 2012)
.
Any alteration in the
client’s pupil’s reaction is

an indication of an

increased intracranial

pressure and the

compaction of the optic

nerve. The oculomotor

cranial nerve controls pupil

reaction and it is important

in finding out whether the

brain stem is damaged. The

pupil’s size assessment is

important in ascertaining

the equilibrium between

the sympathetic and

parasympathetic

innervation. Reaction to

light is shows a joined

function of the oculomotor

and optic cranial nerve.

Pupil’s reaction to light
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should be quick and after

the light source is removed

the pupil should go back to

its original size. Lack of

reaction to light maybe

induced by a developing

mass, which can include a

blood clot which causes

pressure on the optic nerve

the third cranial nerve; the

unchanging pupil may be

due herniation of the

medial temporal lobe.

Any change in visual
alteration shows the areas

of the brain involved.

Stroke causes blurred

vision and headache.

Any alteration in speech
content and cognition is a

signal cerebral involvement

and the location of

damage. It may also

indicate and increased

intracranial pressure.

The assessment will
influence and establish the

alternative of intervention.

Failure of the neurological

signs may show a reduced

intracranial adaptive

capacity which may force
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