The Effect of Lateral Tilt on Ventilation Distribution in Lungs Assessed by Electrical Impedance Tomography

The Effect of Lateral Tilt on Ventilation Distribution in Lungs Assessed by Electrical Impedance Tomography: A Pilot Prospective Randomized Study in Neurocritical Care

Prevention of lung inhomogeneity is an essential part of preventive strategy in neurocritical care, reducing the risks of secondary brain damage from hypoxemia, hypo/hypercapnia or pneumonia.

In the monocentric, intervention, prospective, randomized study, the investigators will examine the effect of lateral tilting (routinely used in critical care) on the lung inhomogeneity that will be analyzed by electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in the unconscious patients with acute primary brain disease and artificial pulmonary ventilation. Two types of lateral tilting will be compared: manual positioning of body by nurse versus the bed tilting (15° lateral tilt, original company (LINET) and product brand name (Eleganza 5).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary brain disease
• Hospitalization in Neurocenter, Neurointensive Care Unit
• Age>18 years
• Unconsciousness
• Artificial pulmonary ventilation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Intracranial hypertension
• History of primary lung disease
• The terminal stage of the disease
• Refractory hemodynamic instability