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  1. #1
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    low blood pressure

    Greetings to you all. Can I give physiotherapy to an intubated patient in Intensive care unit whose blood pressure is very low (can go as low as 77/36). Answer with reasons please. This patient is post CABG.

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    Re: low blood pressure

    Hi,
    what do you mean with "Physiotherapy". What are you going to treat?
    If you are referring to general mobilisations: It's cardiac surgery with post surgical cardiac complications ... you will have to ask the Anaesthetist or Cardiologist.
    They will have set up a post surgical rehab plan including guidelines for boundaries of blood pressure/ heart rate/ oxygen saturation etc. variations. That's my view.
    Cheers,
    Fyzzio


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    Re: low blood pressure

    The patient was referred for chest physiotherapy and general mobilisation. First day was ok, all vitals were fine and the patient was awake. The following day I found the patient sedated (meaning for now it's only passive movements) and chest physiotherapy. However I was not comfortable with the blood pressure but the dr insisted I should treat the patient. It was so bad even the dr could not explain why the blood pressure was too low.


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    Re: low blood pressure

    Interesting scenario. So, the patient is unconscious and ventilated. Why was he sedated?
    What does he need chest Physio for?
    Cheers, Fyzzio


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    Re: low blood pressure

    Quote Originally Posted by tatkas View Post
    Greetings to you all. Can I give physiotherapy to an intubated patient in Intensive care unit whose blood pressure is very low (can go as low as 77/36). Answer with reasons please. This patient is post CABG.
    I would usally go by Mean Arterial Pressure which averages between 70-110mmHg. Anything below 60mmHg indicates poor perfusion to vital organ which would eventually cause ischemic damage. If the mentioned BP is manually taken, I would just make remark in the case notes that I would review him when stable.Well the stated reasoning is only for active or passive ROM's. If for chest PT, Br.Ex's and gentle ETT suctioning should not cause any major issues. Hope it helps (sorry missed your second post that he is sedated. No point of breathing exercise too unless you wana try inspiratory holds with the ventilator to improve compliance)



 

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