1 / 55

Delirium, Dementias, and Related Disorders

Delirium, Dementias, and Related Disorders. Chapter 29. Key Concepts. Cognition System of interrelated abilities, such as perception, reasoning, judgment, intuition and memory Allows one to be aware of oneself Memory Facet of cognition, retaining and recalling past experiences Delirium

paul2
Download Presentation

Delirium, Dementias, and Related Disorders

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Delirium, Dementias, and Related Disorders Chapter 29

  2. Key Concepts • Cognition • System of interrelated abilities, such as perception, reasoning, judgment, intuition and memory • Allows one to be aware of oneself • Memory • Facet of cognition, retaining and recalling past experiences • Delirium • Acute cognitive impairment caused by medical condition • Dementia • Chronic, cognitive impairment • Differentiated by cause, not symptoms

  3. DeliriumClinical Course • Disturbance in consciousness and a change in cognition • Develops over a short period of time • Usually reversible if underlying cause identified • Serious, should be treated as an emergency

  4. DeliriumDiagnostic Criteria • Impairment in consciousness - key diagnostic criteria • Children - can be related to medications or fever • Elderly - most common in this group, often mistaken as dementia

  5. DeliriumEpidemiology & Risk Factors • Prevalence rates from 10-30% of patients • In nursing homes, prevalence reaching 60% of those older than the age of 75 years • Occurs in 30% of hospitalized cancer patients • 30-40% of those hospitalized with AIDS • Higher for women than men • Common in elderly, post-surgical patients

  6. DeliriumEtiology • Complex and usually multidimensional • Most commonly identified causes: • Medications • Infections • Fluid and electrolyte imbalances • Variety of brain alterations • Reduction in cerebral functioning • Damage of enzyme systems, blood brain barrier or cell membranes • Reduced brain metabolism • Imbalance of neurotransmitter • Raised plasma cortisol level • Involvement of white matter

  7. Types • Due to General Medical Condition • Substance-Induced • Substance-Intoxication • Substance-Withdrawal • Multiple Etiologies

  8. Medications • Anticholinergic • Antihistamines, Chlorpheniramine, Ornade & Teldrin), antiparkinsonian drugs (Cogentin, Akineton, atropine, diphenhydramine, phenothiazines, promethazine (Phenergan), scopolamine, TCA • Anticonvulsant • Phenobarbital, phenyton (Dilantin), sodium valproate (Depakene)

  9. Medications • Anti-inflammatory • Corticosteroids, ibuprofen, indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Naprosyn) • Antiparkinsonian • Amantadine (Symmetrel), carbidopa (Sinemet) • Antituberculous • Levodopa (Larodopa), isoniazid, rifampin

  10. Medications • Analgesic • Opiates, salicylates, synthetic narcotics • Cardiac • Beta blockers, propranolol (Inderal), clonidine (Catapres), digitalis (Digoxin, and Lanoxin), lidocaine (Xylocaine), methyldopa (Aldomet), quinidine, procainamide (Pronestyl)

  11. Medications • Sedative/Hypnotic • Barbiturates, benzodiazepines • Sympathomimetic • Amphetamines, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine • OTC • Compoz, Excedrin PM, Sleep-Eze, Sominex

  12. Medications • Miscellaneous • Antiviral, aminophylline, amphotericin (antifungal), bromides, cephalexin (Keflex), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), cimetidine (Tagamet), disulfram (Antabuse), lithium, metronidazole (Flagyl), theophylline, timolol opthalamic

  13. Physiological • Fluid/kidney • Dehydration, Hypocalcemia, Hypokalemia, Abnormal sodium, Low serum albumin, Elevated BUN, Elevated creatinine, Azotemia, Proteinuria, CRD • Cardiac/Respiratory • Hypotension, CVD, CHF, AA, Elevated PT, Low hematocrit, Respiratory insufficiency, Noncardiac thoracic surgery

  14. LABS • BUN • 7-18mg/dL or 2.5-6.4 mmol/L • >60 8-20 mg/d> or 2.9-7.5 mmol/L • Creatinine Clearance • Men 94-140 mL/min/1.72 • Women 72-110mL/min/1.73m • Serum Albumin • Normal 3.5-5.0g/dL

  15. Labs • Hyponatremia • <12mEq/L • Hypocalcemia • <4.65-5.28mg/dL • Hypokalemia • <2.8mEq/L • Elevated PT • Critical Value >30 seconds.

  16. Physiological • Metabolism/Temperature • Metabolic disturbances, Nutritional deficiencies, Abnormal Glucose, • Normal Fasting Adults: <-110 mg/dL • Elevated AST/SGOT • Normal : 8-20 U/L • Abnormal Temperature • Age, gender • Age 65 and older (higher incidence over 80) • Male • Limited social contact, Admission from an institution

  17. Physiological Infection and Trauma • Symptomatic infection • Urinary tract infection • Respiratory infection • Elevated WBC • Emergency Admission • Fracture • Falls • Orthopedic surgery • Combination illnesses

  18. Physiological • More than 4 medications • Drugs with anticholinergic or CNS effects • Hypoxia/Ischemia

  19. Interdisciplinary Treatment & Priorities • Interdisciplinary treatment • Elimination or correction of the underlying cause • Symptomatic and supportive measures • Priorities • Safety • Pay attention to life-threatening disorders. • Rule out life-threatening illness. • Stop all suspected medications. • Monitor vital signs.

  20. Nursing Management Biologic Domain Assessment • Identify normal • Past and present health status • Description of onset, duration, range and intensity of symptoms • Presence of chronic physical illness, dementia, depression, etc. • Physical exam and review of symptoms • Special attention to lab values CBC, BUN, creatinine, electrolytes, liver function and O2 saturation • Physical functions - ADLs, activity level, pain

  21. Nursing ManagementBiologic DomainPharmacologic Assessment • Substance abuse history • Assess for combinations of medications • OTC medication

  22. Delirium: Biologic DomainNursing Diagnosis • Acute confusion • Disturbed thought processes • Disturbed sensory perception • Hyperthermia • Acute pain • Risk for infection • Disturbed sleep pattern

  23. DeliriumBiologic Nursing Interventions • Safety • Protection from physical harm • Low beds, guard rails and careful supervision • Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance • Adequate nutrition • Prevent aspiration • Prevent decubitus ulcers • Pharmacologic • Treatment of the behavior must consider potential anticholinergic side effects. • Lowest possible dose

  24. DeliriumPsychological DomainAssessment • Cognitive changes with rapid onset (several scales see page 678) • Fluctuations in level of consciousness, reduced awareness of environment • Difficulty focusing, sustaining or shifting attention • Severely impaired memory • May be disoriented to time and place, but rarely to person • Environmental perceptions altered • Illogical thought content • Behavior change • Hyperkinetic delirium: psychomotor hyperactivity, excitability, hallucinations • Hypokinetic delirium: lethargic, somnolent, apathetic

  25. Delirium: Psychologic DomainNursing Diagnosis • Acute confusion • Disturbed thought process • Ineffective coping • Disturbed personal identity

  26. DeliriumPsychological Nursing Interventions • Frequent interaction • Support for confusion or hallucinations • Encouraged to express fears and discomforts • Adequate lighting • Easy-to-read calendars and clocks • Reasonable noise level • Frequent verbal orientation • Devices available - eye glasses and hearing aids

  27. Delirium Social DomainAssessment • Assessment of living arrangement • Cultural and educational background considered • Presence of family support • Family interactions

  28. Delirium: Social DomainNursing Diagnosis • Interrupted family processes • Ineffective protection • Ineffective role performance • Risk for injury

  29. DeliriumSocial Nursing Interventions • Safe environment • Predictable, orienting environment • Avoid physical restraint • Presence of family members can be helpful

  30. Evaluation • Correction of underlying physiologic alteration • Resolution of confusion • Family member verbalization of understanding • Prevention of injury

  31. Sudden onset Fluctuating course  consciousness  attention  cognition Hallucinations  activity Incoherent speech Involuntary motor movement Illness, toxicity Insidious onset Stable course Clear Clear  cognition May be present Normal Normal Normal Normal Delirium Dementia

  32. Dementia Alzheimer’s Type • Degenerative, progressive neuropsychiatric disorder that results in cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral changes, physical and functional decline, and ultimately death • Types • Early-onset (65 years and younger) • Rapid progression • Late-onset (over 65) • Stages: mild, moderate, severe (Figure 29-1)

  33. Dementia/Alzheimers Progression

  34. Diagnosis of AD • Essential feature - multiple cognitive deficits • One or more of the following: • Aphasia (alterations in language) • Apraxia (impaired ability to execute movement) • Agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects) • Disturbance of executive functioning

  35. Epidemiology • 4 millions Americans • 6 million by the year 2040 • 10% over 65 years, 47.2% over 85 ears • Highest prevalence over the age of 85 • Twice as common in women

  36. Risk Factors • Age • Gender • Can run in families • Low educational levels (for women)

  37. Etiology • Neuritic plaques (extracellular lesions) Highest density in temporal and occipital lobes, intermediate in parietal lobes, lowest in frontal and limbic cortex • -amyloid protein • Apolipoprotein A cores • Neurofibrillary tangles – initially in limbic then progress to cortex • Apolipoproprotein E • Cholinergic hypothesis • Acetylcholine is associated with cognitive function/disruption damages memory • ACh is reduced • Lowered Norepinephrine – loss of cells in locus ceruleus • Lowered Serotonin – neuronal loss in raphe nuclei • Genetic factors • Roles of chromosome 1, 14 and 21 • Oxidative stress and free radicals • Inflammation

  38. Interdisciplinary Treatment • Confirmation of the diagnosis • Establishment of baseline levels in functional sphere • Establishment of a therapeutic relationship with patient and family • Management of cognitive symptoms • Delaying cognitive decline • Treatment of non-cognitive symptoms - psychosis, mood symptoms and agitation • Support caregivers

  39. Priority Care Issues • Priorities will change throughout the course of the disorder. • Initially, delay cognitive decline. • Later, protect patient from hurting self. • Later, physical needs become the focus of care.

  40. Family Response to AD • Family can be devastated. • Caregiver’s health and well-being are often compromised. • Caregiver distress is a major risk factor. • Caregiver burden often leads to nursing home placement. • Caregiver support can delay nursing home placement.

  41. Nursing ManagementBiologic DomainAssessment • Past and present health status (compare to typical) • Physical examination and review of systems • Vital signs, neurologic status, nutritional status, bladder and bowel function, hygiene, skin integrity, rest and activity, sleep patterns, and fluid and electrolyte balance • Physical functions • Self-care • Sleep-wake disturbances • Activity and exercise • Nutrition • Pain

  42. Dementia: Biologic DomainNursing Diagnosis • Imbalanced nutrition • Self-care deficits (feeding, bathing/hygiene, toileting, constipation) • Impaired swallowing • Bowel incontinence • Impaired urinary elimination • Functional incontinence • Deficient fluid volume

  43. DementiaBiologic Nursing Interventions • Self-care • Maintaining independence as much as possible • Oral hygiene • Nutritional • Monitoring patient’s weight, oral intake and hydration • Well-balanced meals • Observation for swallowing difficulties • Sleep interventions • Activity and exercise - Balance activity with sleep. • Pain and comfort management - Assess carefully, and do not rely on verbalizing pain. • Relaxation

  44. Pharmacologic Interventions • Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) • Donepezil (Cognex) • Rivastigmine (Exelon) • Galantamine (Reminyl) • Used to delay cognitive decline • Most common side effects: nausea, vomiting • Antiinflammatory - Ibuprofen • Antipsychotics • Antidepressants and mood stabilizers • Antianxiety medications - used with caution • Avoid medications with anticholinergic side effects.

  45. DementiaPsychological DomainAssessment • Responses to mental health problems - personality changes • Cognitive status (MMSE and others) • memory – visuospatial • language – executive functioning • Psychotic symptoms • suspiciousness, delusions and illusions • hallucinations

  46. DementiaPsychological DomainAssessment (cont.) • Mood changes • Depression • Anxiety • Catastrophic reactions • Behavioral responses • Apathy and withdrawal • Restlessness, agitation and aggression • Aberrant motor behavior • Disinhibition • Hypersexuality • Stress and coping skills

  47. Dementia: Psychological DomainNursing Diagnosis • Impaired memory • Disturbed thought processes • Chronic confusion • Disturbed sensory perception • Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome • Risk for violence • Risk for loneliness • Risk for caregiver role strain • Ineffective individual coping • Hopelessness • Powerlessness

  48. DementiaPsychological Nursing Interventions • Therapeutic relationship • Interventions for cognitive impairment • Validation therapy • Memory enhancement • Orientation • Maintenance of language functions • Supporting visuospatial functioning • Interventions for psychosis • Management of suspicious, illusions, delusions • Management of hallucinations

  49. DementiaPsychological Nursing Interventions • Interventions for alterations in mood • Management of depression (Do not force activities, but encourage them.) • Management of anxiety by helping patient deal with stress • Remaining calm during catastrophic reactions, minimizing environment distractions, speaking slowly, being reassuring

  50. DementiaPsychological Nursing Interventions • Interventions for behavior problems • Keep close contact with family; help engage patient. • Do not interrupt wandering behavior, but identify pattern. Determine if he/she is confused and can not find way; walk with patient, then re-direct. • Distract for picking in air, wringing hands. • Determine meaning of vocalizations. • Determine antecedents to agitated behavior. • Reduce stimulation to minimize disinhibition.

More Related