Effect of Head Down Tilt on Hemodynamics in Valve Replacement Surgery Patients

Purpose

After cardiac surgery 90% of patients show basal atelectasis even on first postoperative day. Removal of secretions in the basal lobes may require the use of head-down positioning i.e. 15-45°.But to position the head down or not still continues to be a dilemma for physical therapist treating the patients with cardiac surgery as it is believed to be hemodynamically unstable for these patients. So the purpose of study is to examine hemodynamic effect after head down tilt in valve replacement patients.

Method

30 patients were included in the study on first post operative day. Baseline reading of variables i.e. heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and rate pressure product were taken in supine position. After 15 degrees of Head down tilt all the readings of variables were again taken at 1, 5 and 10 min

Result

Except heart rate there was statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and rate pressure product post head down tilt.

Conclusion

Fifteen degrees of head down tilt for 10 min significantly perturbs the cardiovascular system but no detrimental effect of head down tilt (HDT) was observed on cardiovascular system.