The Effects of Head Up Position and Suctioning in Patients With Stroke

Objective: The study was planned to determine the most appropriate head elevation for the stroke patients by finding the changes in the cerebral blood flow via Transcranial Doppler instrument (TCD). Material and Method: The data of the study was collected through the estimation via TCD instrument. Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) blood flow velocity was estimated at head elevation degrees of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60. During the suction, the estimation was made 2 times as one at 15 degree and the other at 30 degree. For Leveene analysis, t-test, Mann Whitney U test, Wilcoxson Sign Ranks test have been used. Results: It has been realized that the more the head elevation is, the less the MCA blood flow velocity occurs in control and case groups. When the sub-group analysis is made, it has been detected that the increase of the head elevation and so the decrease in the cerebral blood flow velocity are not expressive from the type of the stroke. Even though the MCA blood flow velocity is higher at the side with lesion, this situation is not considered as important statistically. During the tracheal suction, the blood flow velocity decreased at lesion-side. Conclusion: After the evaluation of the patients' general state in line with the study results, it has been advised to lay down the patient with head elevation lower than 30 degree so as to increase the cerebral blood flow velocity.