Effect of routine bedside procedures on intracranial pressure.
The effect on intracranial pressure (ICP) of routine bedside procedures, such as changing the patient's position, suction, rotation, flexion or extension of the head, was investigated in 21 comatose patients with brain edema. Simple maneuvers, which under physiological conditions have no effect on ICP, often led to significant changes in the ICP in these patients. It is suggested that monitoring of ICP and adjustment of body position in accordance with the level of ICP become a standard procedure in neurosurgical wards.
D001929:Brain Edema / Q000628:therapy*; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000502:physiology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture; D013396:Suction