Traumatic Encephalopathy Case Study

Encephalopathy is defined as a general term for brain dysfunction and can include a number of syndromes and diseases (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015). Specifically, traumatic encephalopathy is the result of trauma or force to the head, which is what occurred to patient J.M. However, encephalopathy can also be caused secondary to infections, anoxia, metabolic problems, and drugs (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015). In this case, forceful trauma to the head can cause further brain damage due to bleeding in and around the brain. If bleeding occurs, such as in this case, it can leak into the intracranial spaces and cause an increased pressure within the skull. As a result of this increase in pressure build up, it causes a decrease in the amount of blood flow to the brain, resulting in anoxic or hypoxic …show more content…
However other symptoms can include, lethargy, seizures, tremors, muscle twitching, an abnormal breathing pattern, changes in mood, and even coma (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015). Tests used to diagnose encephalopathy can include a CBC, metabolic tests, a CT, an MRI, and/or an EEG (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015). In J.M.’s case, she had blood studies performed along with both a CT and an MRI that confirmed the diagnosis of encephalopathy secondary to trauma. Moreover, an intraparenchymal hematoma, also known as intracerebral hematoma is bleeding that occurs within the brain and are most often caused by traumatic brain injuries (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015). As a response to an impacted force against the brain, small vessels rupture causing an intracerebral hematoma. As the hematoma expands it causes an increase in intracranial pressure, which compresses the brain tissue. These changes cause changes in level of consciousness such as confusion and unresponsiveness. Furthermore, a CT scan, MRI, and/or cerebral angiography are used to confirm the diagnosis of an intracerebral