The Effect of Different Bed-Head Angles on the Haemodynamic Parameters of Intensive Care Patients Lying in the Supine Position

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different bed-head angles given to patients lying in the supine position in an intensive care unit on the haemodynamic parameters of central venous pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and peripheral oxygen saturation.

Design: This was a non-randomised quasi-experimental repeated measures study. Settings: The study was conducted with 50 intensive care patients aged 18 and over in a general surgery intensive care unit in Turkey.

Methods: With each patient in the supine position, the bed-head was raised to an angle of 0, 20, 30 and 45 degrees without a pillow, and the haemodynamic parameters of central venous pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded after 0 and 10 minutes. The data obtained was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney test, the Kruskal Wallis test and the Bonferroni test.

Inclusion criteria

• participating voluntarily in the study
• being aged over 18 years,
• having stayed in the General Surgery Intensive Care Unit for at least 24 hours,
• being monitored for 24 hours,
• having a central venous catheter inserted,
• having central venous pressure measured.

Exclusion criteria

• being less than 18 years of age,
• not wanting to participate in the study, or during the course of the research, wishing to withdraw from the study,
• receiving sedation treatment,
• receiving haemodialysis treatment,
• having an oxygen saturation value of less than 90%,
• being unable to tolerate a 0° prone position (hypovolemic or bradycardic).