Nursing care in anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis: A case series

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, recently identified. To summarize our experience in the nursing care of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis managed with surgery and pharmacotherapy. This study included 45 patients treated between July 2015 and November 2016. Laparoscopic oophorocystectomy was performed in 11 female patients with teratomas. Eleven patients required tracheal intubation or tracheotomy and ventilation. The patients were hospitalized for an average of 25.2 days. The mental and neurological symptoms were significantly relieved 23.6 ± 4.8 days after surgery or immunotherapy. Near-normal function was restored in 11 patients, while 34 patients had varying degrees of dysfunction at discharge. After follow-up of 1 to 18 months, 24 patients were found to have permanent impairments. Appropriate symptomatic nursing care is required to ensure the safety of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.