(^232) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
- Monitor gag reflex.
- Monitor for visual changes.
- Monitor for communication ability; the patient may need special method to
communicate with staff if not able to use call bell system. - Turn and reposition.
- Consult with social worker or chaplain for support services available to
patient. - Explain to the patient:
- Importance of turning and positioning.
- Care of the plasmapheresis access site.
- Importance of planning for home care needs.
Huntington’s Disease (Chorea)
WHAT WENT WRONG?
This is a degenerative disease that presents with a gradual onset of involuntary,
jerking movements (chorea) and a progressive decline in mental ability, resulting
in behavioral changes and dementia. The disease is transmitted genetically, as an
autosomal dominant trait located on chromosome 4. Family members of patients
can have genetic testing done to identify presence of the gene. The symptoms typ-
ically appear between the ages of 30 and 50 years.PROGNOSIS
The patient may present with either abnormalities of movements or changes in
intellectual function. In time, both will be present. The mental status changes will
progress to dementia. The disease will prove to be fatal within 10 to 20 years from
the time of onset.HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Personality changes
- Irritability or moodiness
- Psychiatric disturbance
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