A patient with meningitis is prescribed a cooling blanket.What should the nurse explain as being the purpose of this device?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The purpose of a cooling blanket in a patient with meningitis is to decrease oxygen demand in the brain. Meningitis can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which can cause damage to the brain. Cooling the patient can help decrease the metabolic rate of the brain, which in turn decreases the oxygen demand. This can help prevent further damage to the brain. Cooling the patient does not relieve pain, increase cerebral venous outflow, or reduce the transmission of the infection.

A Patient with Meningitis Is Prescribed a Cooling Blanket