Walking vented patients

Specialties MICU

Published

Does your ICU do this?

Specializes in Psych.

Worked in a SNF that had long term vent patients. While we did not walk many of them ( they were w/c dependent) 2 activities staff would push them to activities.

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If I am ever desperately ill, I want everyone to keep in mind that I SLEEP IN A RECLINER, and can tolerate side-lying positions for maybe an hour-and-a-half. Maybe. Keep me in a high-fowler's position, knees gatched and lower legs on pillows, heels free.

So - get me up to the chair!! PLEASE!!!

Or deal with the breakdown, decubiti, and generalized pain.

So there!

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Specializes in Cardiac Surgical ICU.

I work in a Cardiac Surgical ICU and we have walked vented patients, but this is rare. These patients are usually post-lung transplant patients that have a trach in place and are having difficulty being weaned from the vent. These patients usually are failure wean due to problems with their diaphragm post transplant. This patient population has benefited from walking on the vent. Hope this helps.

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If they are well enough to be walked why are they still vented? Why not consider non invasive ventilation etc?

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