A family affected by mitochondrial encephalomyopathy: a nursing protocol

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are rare genetic diseases that affect organs and tissues with high oxidative activity, such as the brain, striated muscles, and heart. Although these conditions have received attention in the medical literature, there is an absence of published information on this topic in the nursing literature. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to provide an overview of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies and (2) to present a protocol to guide nursing practice. Protocol development is based on a case history and guided by Dungan's model of dynamic integration. The protocol addresses perceived family needs, nursing interventions, and outcomes of care.