Effect of continuous lateral rotational therapy on the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients requiring long-term ventilatory care.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of continuous lateral rotational therapy on the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation.


METHODS
Prospective control study.


METHODS
Chronic ventilator unit in tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation were assigned to receive either continuous lateral rotational therapy or conventional therapy.


RESULTS
Patients receiving continuous lateral rotational therapy had a significantly lower prevalence of pneumonia (17.6%) as compared with control patients (50%, p<.05). The development of pneumonia after being entered into the study was also significantly delayed in continuous lateral rotational therapy patients, 29 +/- 8 days vs. 12 +/- 2 days in controls (p <.05). However, unit mortality, total ventilator days, and the number of patients successfully weaned were not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients requiring long-term ventilator care, continuous lateral rotational therapy reduced the prevalence of pneumonia but did not seem to affect mortality or the period of mechanical ventilation.
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012399:Rotation; D015300:Ventilator Weaning