Nursing care Plans for Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a group of hereditary hemolytic anemia, which Marked by a deficit in the production of hemoglobin. Where the damage occurred in the red blood cells in the blood vessel so that the age erythrocyte be short. It is characterized by defective synthesis in one or more of the polypeptide chains necessary for hemoglobin production. Because Thalassemia affects hemoglobin production, it also impairs red blood cell (RBC) synthesis. 

There are two main types of Thalassemia: ”alpha” and “beta.” The names refer to the part of the hemoglobin molecule that is missing or mutated. 

Two pairs of polypeptide chains”alpha and beta chains” make up hemoglobin. In Thalassemia, diminished synthesis can affect either pair. Structurally, the chains are normal, but the genetic defect decreases their number. In alpha Thalassemia, alpha chain synthesis slows; in beta-Thalassemia, beta chain synthesis slows. Some patients with beta-Thalassemia have no normal hemoglobin only hemoglobin S and the minor hemoglobin’s. 

Causes for Thalassemia 

Thalassemia major Causes by homozygous inheritance of the partially dominant autosomal gene Thalassemia intermedia Causes by homozygous inheritance of the partially dominant autosomal gene. Thalassemia minor is caused by heterozygous inheritance of the same gene. In All type of Thalassemia deficiency of beta polypeptide chain production impairs hemoglobin synthesis and results in continual production of fetal hemoglobin, even after the neonatal period. 

Complications for Thalassemia 

Pathologic fractures Cardiac arrhythmias Heart failure Other complications that result from iron deposits in the heart and other tissues caused by repeated blood transfusions. 

Treatment for Thalassemia 

Patients with Thalassemia minor usually do not require any specific treatment. Treatment for patients with Thalassemia major includes chronic blood transfusion therapy, iron chelation, splenectomy, and allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation. References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia 

Nursing Assessment

Thalassemia major: severe anemia, splenomegaly or hepatomegaly with abdominal enlargement, frequent infections, bleeding tendencies e.g. epistaxis, and anorexia, small bodies and large heads, mentally disabled, mongoloid. Thalassemia intermediate: anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly, hemosiderosis caused by increased intestinal absorption of iron. Thalassemia minor: mild anemia usually with no signs or symptoms. 

Diagnostic Test for Thalassemia 

RBC count and hemoglobin level X-rays of the skull and long bones 

Nursing Diagnosis

Activity intolerance Deficient knowledge (treatment regimen) Delayed growth and development Disturbed body image Ineffective tissue perfusion: Cardiopulmonary Interrupted family processes Risk for infection 

Nursing care Plans for Thalassemia 

Treatment of thalassemia major is essentially supportive. For example, infections require prompt treatment with the appropriate antibiotic. Transfusions of packed RBCs raise the hemoglobin level but must be used judiciously to minimize iron overload. Thalassemia intermedia and thalassemia minor generally don’t require treatment. Iron supplements are contraindicated in all forms of thalassemia. Treatment of children is more difficult. Regular blood transfusions may minimize physical and mental retardation, but transfusions increase the risk of deadly hemosiderosis and iron overload. Continuous subcutaneous infusion of an iron-chelating agent may help produce a negative overall iron balance. If rapid splenic sequestration of transfused RBCs necessitates more transfusions, a splenectomy may be performed. 

Nursing outcomes 

Patient and parents will: Verbalize the importance of balancing activity, as tolerated, with frequent rest periods. Demonstrate age-appropriate skills and behaviors to the extent possible. Express positive feelings about himself. Develop no cardiac arrhythmias. Voice feelings and concerns related to the patient’s illness. Remain free from signs and symptoms of infection Nursing interventions nursing care plans for Thalassemia Watch for adverse reactions during and after RBC transfusions. Collaborative an antibiotic, and observe the patient for adverse reactions. Provide an adequate diet, Encourage the patient to drink plenty of fluids. Provide emotional support Help the patient and his family cope for chronic nature of Explain the need for lifelong transfusions. 

Patient teaching

Explain how to prevent infection e.g. nutrition, wound care Tell about signs of hepatitis and iron overload, which are always possible with frequent transfusions. Explain why child must avoid strenuous athletic activity to avoid pathologic fractures.

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Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Pain

NANDA Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Pain Related factors R/T trauma, injuring agents (biological, chemical, physical, psychological) 

Suggestion on using NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Acute Pain: Distinguish between acute pain Nursing diagnosis with the chronicles pain Nursing diagnosis. One of the two sets is that diagnosis of a painful time. ONSET acute pain is less than 6 months, while the painful chronicles ONSET it is more than 6 months. If you only have two diagnoses to indicate, pain is acute pain and chronic pain. Thus, there is no automatic diagnosis Crashes feel comfortable or feel comfortable painful chronic pain. 

Definition Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Pain: Unpleasant sensory and emotional experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage (International Association for the Study of Pain); sudden or slow onset of any intensity from mild to severe with an anticipated or predictable end and a duration of less than 6 months 

Nursing Outcomes Client Will: Report pain is relieved / controlled. Follow prescribed pharmacological regimen. Verbalize methods that provide relief. Demonstrate use of relaxation skills and diversion activities as indicated for individual situation. 

Nursing Priority Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Pain To assess etiology/precipitating contributory factors: evaluate client’s response to pain: assist client to explore methods for alleviation/control of pain 

Sample Clinical Applications using Nursing Diagnosis for Acute Pain: Traumatic injuries, surgical procedures, infections, cancer, burns, skin lesions, gangrene, thrombophlebitis/pulmonary embolus, neuralgia

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Malignant Brain Tumors

Primary brain tumors comprise a diverse group of neoplasm’s that are often malignant and refractory to treatment, malignant brain tumors. More common in males than in females, malignant brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas, and schwannomas) they cause central nervous system (CNS) changes by invading and destroying tissues and by secondary effects mainly compression of the brain, cranial nerves, and cerebral vessels; cerebral edema; and increased intracranial pressure ICP. Tumors can occur at any age. In adults, incidence is highest between ages 40 and 60, and the most common tumor types are gliomas and meningiomas. They usually occur above the covering of the cerebellum (supratentorial tumors). Most tumors in children occur before age one or between ages 2 and 12. The most common are astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and brain stem gliomas. Brain tumors are one of the most common causes of cancer death in children. 

Primary brain tumors classified by their siteof origin 

• CNS tumors that originate in glial tissue Gliomas, occurring in the glial, or supportive tissues around the brain: Astrocytomas Brain-stem gliomas Ependymomas Oligodendrogliomas 
• CNS tumors that do not originate in glial tissue: Medulloblastoma Craniopharyngiomas Germinomas Pineal-region tumors 

Causes of Brain Tumor 

Brain tumors may be attributed to a familial link or to exposure to ionized radiation (a known environmental risk). Brain tumors may result from metastasis in 20% to 40% of patients with other cancers. In some cases, the cause remains unknown. 

Risk Factors of Primary Brain Tumors 

Hereditary syndromes (proven): tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Turcot’s syndrome, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome Family History of brain tumors History of prior cancer Exposure to infectious agents Allergies (possible reduced risk) Head trauma Drugs and medications Dietary history: N-nitroso compounds, oxidants, antioxidants Tobacco usage Alcohol consumption Ionizing radiation exposure Cellular telephones, Power frequency electromagnetic field exposure 

Complications 

In malignant brain tumors, life-threatening complications from increasing ICP include coma, respiratory or cardiac arrest, and brain herniation

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Nursing care plans for Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Cancer of the cervix is one type of primary uterine cancer (the other being uterine-endometrial cancer) and is predominately epidermoid. Invasive cervical cancer is the third most common female pelvic cancer. The death rate from cervical cancer has steadily declined over the past 50 years owing to the increased use of the Papanicolaou exam, which detects cervical changes before cancer develops. Three types of cervical cancer are: Dysplasia, Carcinoma in situ (CIS) and Invasive carcinoma 

Preinvasive cancer ranges from minimal cervical dysplasia, in which the lower third of the epithelium contains abnormal cells, to carcinoma in situ, in which the full thickness of epithelium contains abnormally proliferating cells (also known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia). Preinvasive cancer is curable in 75% to 90% of patients with early detection and proper treatment. If untreated, it may progress to invasive cervical cancer, depending on the form. 

CIS is carcinoma confined to the epithelium. The full thickness of the epithelium contains abnormally proliferating cells. Both dysplasia and CIS are considered preinvasive cancers and, with early detection, have a 5-year survival rate of 73% to 92%. 

In invasive disease, cancer cells penetrate the basement membrane and can spread directly to contiguous pelvic structures or disseminate to distant sites by way of lymphatic routes. In 95% of cases, the histologic type is squamous cell carcinoma, which varies from well-differentiated cells to highly anaplastic spindle cells. Only 5% of cases are adenocarcinomas. Invasive cancer typically occurs between ages 30 and 50; it rarely occurs younger than age 20. 

Cervical cancer stage (source: http://en.wikipedia.org) 

Cervical cancer is staged by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, which is based on clinical examination, rather than surgical findings. It allows only the following diagnostic tests to be used in determining the stage: palpation, inspection, colposcopy, endocervical curettage, hysteroscopy, cystoscopy, proctoscopy, intravenous urography, and X-ray examination of the lungs and skeleton, and cervical conization. 

The TNM staging system for cervical cancer is analogous to the FIGO stage. 

Stage 0 – full-thickness involvement of the epithelium without invasion into the stroma (carcinoma in situ) 

Stage I – limited to the cervix 

IA – diagnosed only by microscopy; no visible lesions 

          IA1 – stromal invasion less than 3 mm in depth and 7 mm or less in horizontal spread 

          IA2 – stromal invasion between 3 and 5 mm with horizontal spread of 7 mm or less 

IB – visible lesion or a microscopic lesion with more than 5 mm of depth or horizontal spread of more than 7 mm 

          IB1 – visible lesion 4 cm or less in greatest dimension 

          IB2 – visible lesion more than 4 cm 

Stage II – invades beyond cervix
          IIA – without parametrial invasion, but involve upper 2/3 of vagina
          IIB – with parametrial invasion 

Stage III – extends to pelvic wall or lower third of the vagina
          IIIA – involves lower third of vagina
          IIIB – extends to pelvic wall and/or causes hydronephrosis or non-functioning kidney 

IVA – invades mucosa of bladder or rectum and/or extends beyond true pelvis 

IVB – distant metastasis 

Causes for Cervical cancer 

Worldwide studies suggest that Causes for Cervical cancer is sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Certain strains of HPV (16, 18, and 31) are associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. Several predisposing factors have been related to the development of cervical cancer: intercourse at a young age), multiple sexual partners, and herpesvirus 2 and other bacterial or viral venereal infections. Genetic considerations While most risk factors for cervical cancer are environmental, some studies have found that the daughters or sisters of cervical cancer patients are more likely to get the disease. 

Complications of Cervical cancer 

Disease progression can cause flank pain from sciatic nerve or pelvic wall invasion and hematuria and renal failure associated with bladder involvement.

• Ureteric obstruction 
• Intermenstrual PV bleed 
• Vesicovaginal fistula 
• Post-menopausal PV bleed 
• Uterine enlargement 
• Menorrhagia 

Nursing Assessment

Patient’s history, early cervical cancer usually asymptomatic, establishes a thorough history with particular attention to the presence of the risk factors and the woman’s menstrual history. assess a history of later symptoms of cervical cancer, including abnormal bleeding or spotting between periods or after menopause, metrorrhagia or menorrhagia, dysparuenia and postcoital bleeding; leukorrhea in increasing amounts and changing over time from watery to dark and foul; and a history of chronic cervical infections. Determine if the patient has experienced weight gain or loss; abdominal or pelvic pain, often unilateral, radiating to the buttocks and legs, or other symptoms associated with neoplasms, such as fatigue. The patient history includes abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as a persistent vaginal discharge that may be yellowish, blood-tinged, and foul-smelling; postcoital pain and bleeding; and bleeding between menstrual periods or unusually heavy menstrual periods. The patient history may suggest one or more of the predisposing factors for this disease. 

Physical Examination. Pelvic examination. Observe the patient’s external genitalia for signs of inflammation, bleeding, discharge, or local skin or epithelial changes. Palpate for motion tenderness of the cervix (Chandelier’s sign); a positive Chandelier’s sign (pain on movement) usually indicates an infection. Also examine the size, consistency (hardness may reflect invasion by neoplasm), shape, mobility (cervix should be freely movable), tenderness, and presence of masses of the uterus and adnexa. If the cancer has advanced into the pelvic wall, the patient may report gradually increasing flank pain, which can indicate sciatic nerve involvement. Leakage of urine may point to metastasis into the bladder with formation of a fistula. Leakage of stool may indicate metastasis to the rectum with fistula development. 

Diagnostic test

Papanicolaou examination ((Pap smear) Colposcopy followed by punch biopsy or cone biopsy The Vira/Pap test to examination of the specimen’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure to detect HPV 

Nursing diagnosis

Common nursing diagnosis found in nursing care plans for Cervical Cancer:

• Pain (acute) related to postprocedure swelling and nerve damage 
• Anxiety 
• Fear 
• Impaired physical mobility 
• Impaired skin integrity 
• Ineffective coping 
• Ineffective sexuality patterns 
• Risk for infection Sexual dysfunction 

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Cancer of the cervix is one type of primary uterine cancer (the other being uterine-endometrial cancer) and is predominately epidermoid. Invasive cervical cancer is the third most common female pelvic cancer. The death rate from cervical cancer has steadily declined over the past 50 years owing to the increased use of the Papanicolaou exam, which detects cervical changes before cancer develops.

Nursing Key outcomes
Pain control; Pain: Disruptive effects; Well-being, after nursing interventions patient will Report feeling less pain. Report feelings of reduced anxiety. Verbalize her concerns and fears related to her diagnosis and condition. Maintain joint mobility and range of motion. Free from breakdown. Demonstrate adaptive coping behaviors. Resume normal sexual activity patterns to the fullest extent possible. Remain free from signs or symptoms of infection. The patient and partner will express feelings and perceptions about changes in sexual performance.

Nursing interventions nursing care plans for Cervical Cancer 
Analgesic administration; Pain management; Meditation; Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS); Hypnosis; Heat/cold application
Collaborative 
If you assist with a biopsy, drape and prepare the patient as for a routine Pap test and pelvic examination. Have a container of formaldehyde ready to preserve the specimen during transfer to the pathology laboratory. Assist the physician as needed, and provide support for the patient throughout the procedure. If you assist with cryosurgery or laser therapy, drape and prepare the patient as for a routine Pap test and pelvic examination. Assist the physician as necessary, and provide support for the patient throughout the procedure. Preinvasive lesions (CIS) can be treated by conization, cryosurgery, laser surgery, or simple hysterectomy (if the patient’s reproductive capacity is not an issue). All conservative treatments require frequent follow-up by Pap tests and colposcopy because a greater level of risk is always present for the woman who has had CIS Administer analgesics and prophylactic antibiotics, as ordered.
Independent 
Listen to the patient’s fears and concerns, and offer reassurance when appropriate. Encourage her to use relaxation techniques to promote comfort during diagnostic procedures. When a patient requires surgery, prepare her mentally and physically for the surgery and the postoperative period. After any surgery, monitor vital signs every 4 hours. Watch for and immediately report signs of complications, such as bleeding, abdominal distention, severe pain, and wheezing or other breathing difficulties. Encourage deep breathing and coughing. Check to see whether the radioactive source is to be inserted while the patient is in the operating room (preloaded) or at bedside (afterloaded). If the source is preloaded, the patient returns to her room hot and safety precautions begin immediately. Remember that safety precaution time, distance, and shielding begin as soon as the radioactive source is in place. Inform the patient that she will require a private room. Check the patient’s vital signs every 4 hours Assist the patient with range-of-motion arm exercises. Avoid leg exercises and other body movements that could dislodge the source. If ordered, administer a tranquilizer to help the patient relax. Provide activities that require minimal movement. Watch for treatment complications by listening to and observing the patient and monitoring laboratory studies and vital signs. When appropriate, perform measures to prevent or alleviate complications.

Patient teaching, discharge and home healthcare guidelines for patients with Cervical Cancer: 
Be sure the patient and family understand any pain medication prescribed, including dosage, route, action, and side effects. Reassure the patient that this disease and Cervical Cancer care treatment should not radically alter her lifestyle or prohibit sexual intimacy. Tell to the patient all the post procedure complications. Ensure that the patient understands the need for ongoing Pap smears if appropriate. Vaginal cytological studies are recommended at 4-month intervals for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually. Explain the importance of complying with follow-up visits to the gynecologist and oncologist. Stress the value of these visits in detecting disease progression or recurrence

Biopsy
Explain to the patient that she may feel pressure, minor abdominal cramps, or a pinch from the punch forceps. Reassure her that the pain will be minimal because the cervix has few nerve endings.

Cryosurgery
Explain to the patient that the procedure takes about 15 minutes, during which time the physician uses refrigerant to freeze the cervix. Caution to the patients that she may experience abdominal cramps, headache, and sweating, but reassure her that she will feel little, if any, pain.

Laser surgery
Explain to the patient the laser surgery procedure takes about 30 minutes and may cause abdominal cramps. After excision biopsy, cryosurgery, or laser therapy, tell the patient to expect a discharge or spotting for about 1 week. Advise her not to douche, use tampons, or engage in sexual intercourse during this time. Caution her to report signs of infection. Stress the need for a follow-up Pap test and a pelvic examination in 3 to 4 months and periodically thereafter. Also, tell her what to expect postoperatively if a hysterectomy is necessary.

Preloaded internal radiation therapy
Tell to the patient that preloaded internal radiation therapy procedure requires hospital stay, bowel preparation, a povidoneiodine vaginal douche, a clear liquid diet, and nothing by mouth the night before the implantation. It also requires an indwelling urinary catheter. Inform the patient that preloaded internal radiation therapy is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia.

After loaded internal radiation therapy
Explain to the patient that a member of the radiation team implants the source after the patient returns to her room from surgery. Remind the patient to watch for and report uncomfortable adverse effects, warn the patient to avoid people with obvious infections during therapy. Inform the patient that vaginal narrowing caused by scar tissue can occur after internal radiation. Describe the complications that can occur after high-dose radiation therapy.

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