[Influence of the respiratory physiotherapy on intracranial pressure in severe head trauma patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate influence of the respiratory physiotherapy on intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with severe head trauma.


METHODS
Thirty five patients with severe head trauma were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups: ICP 0-10, 11-20 and 21-30 mmHg. The following variables were measured: ICP and mean arterial pressure. Cerebral perfusion pressure was calculated as the difference between mean arterial and intracranial pressure.


RESULTS
Endotracheal aspiration increased ICP in all patients. The mean arterial pressure didn't change and cerebral perfusion pressure decreased, but remaining normal value.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory physiotherapy maneuvers can be safely applied in patients with severe head trauma with ICP below 30 mmHg. More attention should be taken during endotracheal aspiration.
Thiesen
Rosana A
RA
Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital das Clinicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Dragosavac
Desanka
D
Roquejani
Augusto C
AC
Falcão
Antônio L E
AL
Araujo
Sebastião
S
Dantas Filho
Venâncio P
VP
Oliveira
Rosmari A R A
RA
Terzi
Renato G G
RG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices