Nursing Care for the Patient with Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis and Mucormycosis: A Case Report Based on Gordon's Functional Health Patterns Model

Purpose: This study aimed to provide an evidence-based nursing care plan from the perspective of Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns Model for a patient diagnosed with cavernous sinus thrombosis and mucormycosis in the intensive care unit. Methods: This was a case report study examining nursing care plans in accordance with the NANDA nursing diagnoses, nursing outcomes classification, and nursing interventions classification. Findings: A 41-year-old female patient with visual impairment was admitted to the hospital. In the later stages of the treatment, further investigations were performed by suspecting the necrotic tissues in orbit, and a diagnosis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis was determined. The patient, treated in the intensive care unit for 37 days, was evaluated in 11 functional areas in the Functional Health Patterns Model. Nursing diagnoses were acute pain, hyperthermia, impaired oral mucous membrane integrity, ineffective breathing pattern, risk for infection, risk for impaired skin integrity, imbalanced nutrition, ineffective health self-management, risk for unstable blood glucose level. Conclusion: The Functional Health Patterns Model can be utilized as a valuable and effective model in assessing the patient with a diagnosis of mucormycosis in the intensive care unit with a holistic and systematic perspective and in providing professional nursing care. Implications for nursing practices: Providing care based on the nursing model is crucial, especially in rare diseases. Holistic evaluation of the patient, meeting his acute needs, and evaluating nursing interventions based on evidence can improve patient outcomes. This case report can provide insight into further research to overlook the assessment of the patients treated with the diagnosis of CST in terms of mucormycosis, to be aware of the prevalence of this disease, and to acquire information about the prevention, early diagnosis, and maintenance of the disease.