Effects of bodyposition on arterial oxygenation in acute stroke patients

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxemia is an important factor that increases cerebral damage in acute stroke patients. In conjunction with the growing importance of stroke intensive care units, there has been an increase in studies reporting on the correlation between oxygenation and the body position in acute stroke patients with hemiparesis. This study was planned to evaluate the relationship between oxygen saturation (SaO2) and position in acute stroke patients. METHODS: : Acute stroke patients followed in the Neurology Department of Ankara Numune Hospital between July 2000 and June 2001 were included in this study. The SaO2, pulse and blood pressure values were recorded initially, and at the 15th, 30th and 60th minutes in patients lying on either their paretic or healthy side in the lateral decubitus position on the 1st, 3rd and 7th days. Characteristics of the lesions were determined on computerized tomography (CT). Clinical parameters (consciousness, degree of paresis, functional disability, coma scores, and prognosis) were also recorded. RESULTS: The 50 patients (19 male, 31 female) included in this study with the diagnosis of acute stroke had a mean age of 68.32±12.02. CT imaging revealed hematoma in 19 of the patients, infarct in 30 and hemorrhagic infarct in 1. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) values of the subjects recorded initially and at the 15th, 30th and 60th min from the healthy side in the lateral decubitus position in the first day of stroke were found to be higher than the paretic side (p