The effects of hygiene interventions on the cerebrovascular status of severe closed head injured persons

The cerebrovascular status of 19 severe closed head injured patients was assessed during oral, body, and indwelling catheter care. Heart rates, mean arterial blood pressures, mean intracranial pressures, and cerebral perfusion pressures were recorded at baseline, peak nursing intervention, and 1‐minute recovery times. Significant increases (p ⩽.05) in the dependent variables were noted at peak intervention; by recovery time these elevated values had returned to baseline levels. Physiologic responses that did not prove clinically significant are discussed to account for the observed changes. Since cerebral perfusion pressures never fell below 50 mm Hg, the three hygiene interventions are procedures considered safe and beneficial to the patient with closed head injury.