Authors

Beatriz Anta García1, Mª Luisa Martínez Martín2

Position

1Enfermera. Máster en Urgencias y Cuidados Críticos Intrahospitalarios. Servicio de Urgencias Generales. Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda. Madrid2Enfermera. Licenciada en Ciencias Políticas y Sociología. Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Contact address

Beatriz Anta García. Avda. de Baviera, 15. 28028 Madrid.

Contact email: bea.antagarcia@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the nursing care required in order to ensure safety in neurocritical patients with an external ventricular drain after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury.
Method: a narrative review through bibliographic search in Health Sciences databases: PubMed, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library, as well as the metasearch engines Dialnet Plus and Academic Google.
Results: fourteen (14) articles were selected because they were adequate to address the primary objective of the study, analyzing the general Nursing care regarding intracranial pressure: mouth care, aspiration of endotracheal secretions, elevation of the head end of the bed, repositioning and early mobilization, administration of sedative medication, and auditory stimulation and interaction with the patient.
Conclusions: excellence in care and safety of patients with traumatic brain injury lies in a well-founded indication to monitor intracranial pressure, and a team of nurses with specific interventions based on scientific evidence. In order to reduce the incidence of complications associated with intraventricular drain, there must be a protocol of care. The main limitations in the studies analyzed were: heterogeneity, reduced sample size, the limited number of clinical trials and multicenter studies, and the lack of protocols and clinical practice guidelines for the management of these patients.

Keywords:

traumatic brain injury; intracranial hypertension; nursing care; critical care; drain

Versión en Español

Título:

Cuidados para garantizar la seguridad del paciente con traumatismo craneoencefálico grave portador de drenaje ventricular externo