Patient positioning influences oxygen saturation in the acute phase of stroke

We evaluated arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and heart rate in acute st roke patients to determine whether routine positioning affected these physi ological parameters. Measurements were recorded at the bedside noninvasivel y in five different positions assigned in random order each maintained for 10 min. One hundred and twenty-nine patients examined within a median of 72 h, lying on the left side resulted in slightly lower SaO(2) than lying on the right side, which was statistically significant in the patients with a right (n = 66), but not left, hemiparesis. Patients able to sit in a chair( n = 65), who mostly had less severe strokes, had a significantly higher mea n SaO(2) and heart rate when sitting in the chair than when placed in any o ther position. About 10% of patients, especially those with a severe stroke , with right hemiparesis and concomitant chest disease, experienced falls i n SaO(2) to 90% or less for greater than or equal to2 min in certain positi ons; the hypoxia was more likely when they were lying on their left side, T hese results may have implications for current practice and for future pati ent positioning strategies to improve outcome after stroke. Copyright (C) 2 001 S. Karger AG. Basel.