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document
Patient positioning influences oxygen saturation in the acute phase of stroke . We evaluated arterial oxygen saturation ( SaO ( 2 ) ) and heart rate in acute stroke patients to determine whether routine positioning affected these physiological parameters . Measurements were recorded at the bedside non-invasively in five different positions assigned in random order each maintained for 10 min . One hundred and twenty-nine patients examined within a median of 72 h , lying on the left side resulted in slightly lower SaO ( 2 ) than lying on the right side , which was statistically significant in the patients with a right ( n = 66 ) , but not left , hemiparesis . Patients able to sit in a chair ( n = 65 ) , who mostly had less severe strokes , had a significantly higher mean SaO ( 2 ) and heart rate when sitting in the chair than when placed in any other position . About 10 % of patients , especially those with a severe stroke , with right hemiparesis and concomitant chest disease , experienced falls in SaO ( 2 ) to 90 % or less for > /=2 min in certain positions ; the hypoxia was more likely when they were lying on their left side . These results may have implications for current practice and for future patient positioning strategies to improve outcome after stroke .
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Intervention_Surgical
five different positions
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Intervention_Surgical
median
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Intervention_Surgical
lying on the left side
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Intervention_Surgical
lying on the right side
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Intervention_Surgical
sit in a chair
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Intervention_Surgical
lying on their left side
6623
Outcome_Physical
oxygen saturation
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Outcome_Physical
arterial oxygen saturation ( SaO ( 2 ) )
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Outcome_Physical
heart rate
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Outcome_Physical
SaO ( 2 )
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Outcome_Physical
mean SaO ( 2 )
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Outcome_Physical
heart rate
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Outcome_Physical
SaO ( 2 )
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Outcome_Physical
hypoxia
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Participant_Condition
acute phase
6632
Participant_Condition
stroke
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Participant_Sample-size
One hundred and twenty-nine