Final answer:
After a right hemisphere CVA, expect to see left-sided weakness or paralysis, sensory changes, visual field deficits, behavioral changes like impulsivity and lack of awareness of deficits, as well as potential difficulties with spatial and perceptual abilities and nonverbal communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient has sustained a right hemisphere CVA (cerebrovascular accident, or stroke) 48 hours ago, you would expect to see certain neurological and behavioral changes due to the brain injury. Patients with a right hemisphere stroke may exhibit problems with their spatial and perceptual abilities, leading to difficulties in judging distance, size, position, rate of movement, form, and how parts relate to the whole. Because the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, the patient might demonstrate left-sided weakness (hemiparesis) or complete paralysis (hemiplegia) of their left limbs. Additionally, they may experience changes in sensation, such as numbness or tingling, particularly on the left side. Another common effect of a right hemisphere stroke is neglect or inattention to the left side of the body or space, known as left-sided neglect. Behavioral changes such as impulsivity, lack of awareness of their own deficits (anosognosia), and emotional lability might be present. Problems with visual processing, such as difficulty in seeing half of the visual field in each eye (hemianopia), could also be a symptom. Lastly, because the right hemisphere is involved in nonverbal communication, the patient might have difficulty interpreting facial expressions and tone of voice, which can affect social interactions.