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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of head and neck positions on the cerebral blood flow velocity by transcranial Doppler ultrasound in patients who underwent cranial surgery.
Inappropriate head elevation and body positioning in patients who undergo cranial surgery may affect cerebral blood flow and cerebral perfusion pressure. DESIGNED: Experimental clinical study.
Our sample consisted of 38 patients who underwent cranial surgery between October 2009 and May 2010. The measurments of mean cerebral blood flow velocity were taken by the transcranial Doppler ultrasound through the temporal window. The mean cerebral blood flow velocity of the patients was measured in supine position with 0° and 30° head elevations, right and left lateral positions, right and left lateral positions with head flexion and extension. The measurements were taken before surgery and within 72 hours after surgery.
The mean cerebral blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral arteries was increased in head elevations from 0° to 30°, in right and lateral positions with 30° head elevations, but the velocity was decreased in head flexion and extension positions in preoperative and postoperative periods.
Head and body positioning, which is one of the nursing care activities, may affect intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Our results are similar with those of previous studies, which showed that head elevation did not affect the cerebral blood flow velocity.
By the results of this study, the head elevation of the patients, who underwent cranial surgery, should be 30° during the nursing care to provide optimum cerebral blood flow. Right and left lateral positioning is safe and recommended for these patients if there is no medical contraindication.
Journal of Clinical Nursing 07/2012; 21(13-14):1859-67. · 1.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study was performed to assess disability on daily living activities, which developed secondary to low back pain, in patients with lumbar disc herniation and treated either conservatively or surgically. The study was performed between November 2008 and June 2009. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the intensity of pain, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess the disability of the patients on daily living activities. Of the 112 patients, 55 were women and 57 were men. The mean age was 39.68 years for the conservative treatment group and 46.46 years the for surgical treatment group. In the pretreatment period, the patients who were selected for surgical treatment had higher VAS score and ODI than did the patients who were selected for conservative treatment. The disability areas that were reported in the pretreatment period were walking, sleeping, standing, and traveling for the surgical treatment group and self-care, sitting, and social life areas for the conservative treatment group. When the ODI and VAS score of the patients were statistically compared at the third month of posttreatment period, the scores were significantly low in the surgical treatment group. The disability areas that were reported at the third month of posttreatment period were weight lifting, self-care, and walking for the surgical treatment group and social life, sleeping, sitting, and standing for the conservative treatment group. This study found that patients with low back pain experience physical disabilities due to pain. Their daily living activities are affected by these disabilities and the intensity of pain affects the level of disability. Knowledge of the disability areas caused by low back pain plays an important role in the determination of nursing care and content of the education which will be offered to the patients. The use of scale on the patient's care is important to form a common language in nursing and to obtain evidence-based data related to the patients.
The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. 04/2012; 44(2):98-104.
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ABSTRACT: The functional changes that develop because of neurological sequelae in patients with a brain tumor have a negative effect on daily activities and self-care. This situation in turn has a negative effect on the lives of the patients' relatives and increases their work load. We interviewed 10 relatives of patients who had undergone cranial surgery for a brain tumor as part of a descriptive qualitative study and asked them to describe their experiences during the perioperative period and home care. The data obtained from the patients' relatives were evaluated using Colaizzi's analysis method and divided into three categories and eight themes: (a) personal feelings (first reactions, decision for surgery, first meeting with the patient after surgery, ambiguity), (b) management of the changes (management of the side effects of the tumor, management of role and behavioral changes, management of care at home, social support), and (c) need for knowledge about managing the disease process. We found that brain tumor surgery can be more frightening for patients and their relatives than other surgical interventions. Also, because the patient requires prolonged postoperative care, the patient's family plays an important role at every stage of the patient's treatment and care.
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 04/2011; 43(2):77-84. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The Neck Disability Index, the Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire, the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale and the Neck Pain and Disability Scale are widely used scales for assessing neck pain or disability. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable scale for Turkish patients with neck pain.
All scales were translated into Turkish, administered to 102 patients with neck pain, then compared with regard to their construct validity, reliability, responsiveness, acceptability and usefulness.
The scales were similar in their high validity, reliability standards and sensitivity to change, but differed in their acceptability and usefulness. The item about driving in the Neck Disability Index and the Northwick Park Pain Questionnaire was omitted by 69.6% of patients for reasons other than a neck problem.
All scales were reliable, valid and sensitive instruments, with similar psychometric properties. The scale that most adequately reflects the patient should be chosen.
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 06/2007; 39(5):358-62. · 2.05 Impact Factor
