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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Introduction

Medical-Surgical NursingIntroduction
Figure 15.1 Computed tomography angiography can give an effective visualization of the cerebral vasculature, such as the aneurysm indicated by the red arrows. (credit: “Volume_rendered_CT_angiography_of_posterior_communicating_artery_aneurysm.png” by Shazia Mirza and Sankalp Gokhale/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

Chapter Outline

Introduction

The brain is one component of the central nervous system (CNS). This crucial organ controls or interprets everything we do: our movement, breath, emotional reactions, vision, experience of hot and cold. The brain’s functioning requires a continuous supply of glucose and oxygen; consequently, its vasculature is complex. However, what if there is a disruption in the perfusion of the brain? What happens when the brain cells, which control our every voluntary and involuntary movement, do not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function? The result is a stroke.

Treating patients who have had a stroke—or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), as strokes are commonly called—is quite complex. It requires an understanding of the cerebral vasculature and the brain. There are two distinct types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Differentiating the two will help guide nursing care to recognize cues, prioritize interventions, and evaluate outcomes.

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