Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

Vol. 3(1), 45-50, 2025

https://doi.org/10.62574/21p4mm10

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Nursing care in neurological emergencies in the intensive care unit.

Systematic review

Objective: to analyse nursing care in neurological emergencies in the intensive care unit from a

systematic review. Method: systematic review, population of 15 articles. Conclusion: Nursing care

in neurological emergencies within the ICU, especially in the management of Guillain-Barré

syndrome, requires a combination of advanced technical knowledge and specialised clinical skills

that address the physical, emotional and psychological needs of patients. The results of this

systematic review highlight the importance of constant monitoring, the prevention of complications,

the implementation of clinical guidelines and continuous training to guarantee quality care.

especialmente en el manejo del síndrome de Guillain-Barré, requiere una combinación de

conocimientos técnicos avanzados, habilidades clínicas especializadas que atienda las necesidades

físicas, emocionales y psicológicas de los pacientes. Los resultados de esta revisión sistemática

destacan la importancia de la monitorización constante, la prevención de complicaciones, la

implementación de guías clínicas y la capacitación continua para garantizar una atención de calidad.

Descriptores: enfermedades del sistema nervioso; síndrome de Guillain-Barré; síndrome de Miller

Fisher. (DeCS).

Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

Vol. 3(1), 45-50, 2025

Atención en enfermería en emergencias neurológicas en la unidad de

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INTRODUCTION

Nursing care in neurological emergencies within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a

challenge that requires specialised knowledge, advanced clinical skills and a

comprehensive understanding of acute neurological conditions. Among these

emergencies, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has gained relevance due to its

association with viral infections such as COVID-19 and other complex medical

conditions (1-3). This neurological disorder, characterised by acute

polyradiculoneuropathy, can lead to serious complications, such as respiratory

articles were analysed following the guidelines established by the Preferred

Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol.

MeSH terms and related keywords were used, such as ‘Guillain-Barré Syndrome,’

‘nursing care,’ ‘neurological emergencies,’ ‘intensive care unit,’ and ‘COVID-19.’ The

search was complemented with Boolean operators (AND, OR) to combine terms and

refine the results.

RESULTS

The management of neurological emergencies requires constant clinical evaluation

and the ability to respond in a timely manner to changes in the neurological status

of patients. According to Ogbebor et al. (2), nurses in the ICU are responsible for

Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

Vol. 3(1), 45-50, 2025

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families.

managing neuropathic pain. Therefore, Nguyen et al. (4) emphasise that nursing

care must be individualised, adapting to the specific characteristics of each patient,

which includes planning early rehabilitation strategies. In this case, Busl et al. (3)

warn of the importance of clinical guidelines in neuroprognosis, which allow nurses

to make informed decisions and improve clinical outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the workload in the ICU, especially in the

management of patients with neurological complications associated with the virus.

Consequently, Sheikh et al. (8) and Yakoby et al. (7) document the relationship

between GBS and COVID-19 infection, which has required nurses to adapt their

practices in a context of high uncertainty. In this sense, nurses have demonstrated

GBS in a heart transplant recipient, which highlights the need for an interdisciplinary

approach in the care of patients with complex comorbidities.

The emotional impact of hospitalisation in the ICU is another critical aspect in the

care of neurological emergencies, therefore, Dimou et al. (14) explore how patients'

experiences, including perceptions of safety and well-being, are profoundly

influenced by the quality of care provided by nurses. This result reinforces the

importance of therapeutic communication and empathy as essential tools in nursing

practice.

Continuous training is essential to guarantee quality care in the ICU. Hu et al. (5)

emphasise that advances in research, such as transcriptomic analysis in paediatric

Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

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patients with GBS, have made it possible to identify new care strategies. Likewise,

respiratory complications, areas in which nurses play a leading role. In summary,

Rose et al. (6) emphasise that the care of patients with GBS and other neurological

emergencies requires comprehensive care that combines technical skills, empathy

and effective communication, which is essential to guarantee humanised care

centred on the needs of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Nursing care in neurological emergencies within the ICU, especially in the

management of Guillain-Barré syndrome, requires a combination of advanced

technical knowledge and specialised clinical skills that address the physical,

emotional and psychological needs of patients. The results of this systematic review

There is no conflict of interest with people or institutions linked to the research.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the UNIANDES research department.

REFERENCES

Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

Vol. 3(1), 45-50, 2025

Atención en enfermería en emergencias neurológicas en la unidad de

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Cuaderno de enfermería. Revista científica

Vol. 3(1), 45-50, 2025

Atención en enfermería en emergencias neurológicas en la unidad de

50