Brittany continues to be heavily medicated for pain and to keep her brain swelling to a minimum. She is partially conscious – knows where sounds and visual stimulation are coming from, is able to reach for objects with her uninjured arm, responds to commands from her parents and nurses every now and then, can vocalize at times and shows emotion. However, Brittany’s behavior is often inconsistent and she easily becomes confused and disoriented; which is so uncharacteristic of her and leaves her parents emotionally drained.
Additional tests, such as an MRI, are performed and each day new information is added to her ICU Chart.
Brittany’s recovery will continue once she leaves the ICU, but her treatment path will depend on how quickly and how well her body heals. Often mental health issues develop because of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depend on the severity and the type of injury. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are examples of the most common disorders associated with TBI. Regardless of her path, Brittany will spend time in a rehabilitation unit where intensive therapy will occur to help her regain some of her lost abilities and make adaptations for any physical or mental deficiencies. Brittany’s recovery from her traumatic brain injury could take months to years and she may never recover completely.
Team Response: How will Brittany’s new medical situation affect her family in the future? How will it affect her friends? Provide examples for both.
Team Response: How do you think Brittany’s choice to text and drive will affect her family going forward? How do you think it will affect her friends? Provide examples for both.
Intensive care unit: A specialized hospital unit for the care of critically ill patients. Also called an ICU.
(“Learning About Your Health.” What Is the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Ventilator: A machine designed to mechanically move breathable air into and out of the lungs for a patient who is unable to breathe or who is breathing insufficiently. To use a ventilator, a tube is placed through the patient’s mouth to the trachea, or windpipe.
(“What Is a Ventilator.” NHLBI, NIH N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Arterial Line: A thin tube inserted into an artery to constantly monitor blood pressure.
(“Arterial Line Insertion | Patient Treatment.” Arterial Line Insertion | Patient Treatment. N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Foley catheter: A flexible tube that is passed through the urethra and into the bladder to drain urine.
(“Foley Catheter: Get Facts on Insertion, Care and Removal.” EMedicineHealth. N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Nasogastric tube: A tube that is passed through the nose and down to the stomach to remove contents from the stomach or to put contents (such as nutrients) into the stomach. Also called an NG tube.
(“Nasogastrict Tube.” Medterms. N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Electrocardiogram: A medical device for monitoring the electrical rhythms of the heart. Also called ECG or EKG.
(“What Is an Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) Test?” WebMD. N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Intracranial pressure monitor: A small, plastic tube inserted into the brain and connected to a monitor that continuously displays the pressure surrounding the brain.
(“Intracranial Pressure Monitoring: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Pulse oximeter: A device used to monitor the oxygen level of a patient’s blood.
(“Pulse oximeter.” TheFreeDictionary.com. N.P., n.d. Web. 06 June 2014.)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An imaging technique that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to scan and take pictures of the body. Also called an MRI.
(“Mayo Clinic.” Mayo Clinic. 17 Aug. 2013. Web. 05 June 2014.)