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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
05:01
A Detailed Protocol for Physiological Parameters Acquisition and Analysis in Neurosurgical Critical Patients
Published on: October 17, 2017
Changes in intracranial pressure associated with chest physiotherapy.
DaiWai M Olson1, Suzanne M Thoyre, Dennis A Turner
1The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. dmolson@email.unc.edu
Neurocritical Care
|May 25, 2007
Summary
Chest physiotherapy may help manage high intracranial pressure in brain-injured patients. This case study suggests it could be a valuable tool, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Effective management of intracranial hypertension is crucial for patients with brain injuries.
- Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) poses significant risks in neurological critical care.
Observation:
- A patient with severe brain injury (closed head injury and anoxic encephalopathy) developed refractory intracranial hypertension.
- Pneumonia necessitated frequent patient repositioning and chest physiotherapy, interventions traditionally avoided due to concerns of increasing ICP.
Findings:
- Contrary to conventional belief, chest physiotherapy in this case did not worsen intracranial pressure.
- Observations suggest chest physiotherapy may potentially aid in resolving high intracranial pressure.
Implications:
- This case challenges the assumption that chest physiotherapy exacerbates intracranial hypertension.
- Further investigation via randomized-controlled trials is recommended to validate chest physiotherapy as a therapeutic option for elevated ICP.
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