Cerebrovascular and systemic haemodynamic parameters during passive exercise

Abstract

Abstract Passive range of motion exercises (PROM) are often used in immobilized patients but are scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the safety of PROM with respect to intracranial, cerebrovascular and systemic haemodynamic parameters in critically ill patients at a neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU). Twelve consecutively enrolled NICU patients underwent monitoring of their intracranial (ICP) and systemic blood pressures (BP), heart rate, cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV) and pulsatility index (PI) during PROM treatment. Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was calculated. For comparison, 12 healthy age- and gender-matched controls underwent similar testing except for ICP and CPP assessments. Patients had a lower ICP after PROM (p=0.006) but unaffected BP. Control subjects had lower BP during and after PROM (p=0.01). CBFV data and PI remained unchanged during PROM in both patients and controls, but with a significantly higher PI in the patient group than the controls. PROM can safely be used in critically ill NICU patients.