Early rehabilitation in an intensive-care unit - stroke and cranio-cerebral trauma as examples

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1994; 4/6: 229-232.

Abstract: An increasing number of patients survive severe accidents and serious diseases; they end up, however, quite often with disabilities. Rehabilitation therefore must begin soon after admission to hospital. In the intensive-care unit it is essential to prevent complications: proper position in cases of hemi- and paraplegia, avoidance of pressure an peripheral nerves, prophylactic measures against thrombosis, pneumonia and pressure scores. Among our patients with stroke a high number acquired urinary tract infections during intensive care.Early clinical rehabilitation can be performed only in hospital, because the patients are endangered by complications. All means of diagnosis and treatment must be available. An important condition for early clinical rehabilitation is a good training of the team. Several rehabilitation centers in Germany have promoted the training of rehabilitation nursing. The training of doctors can be achieved by specialising as doctor for physiotherapy and rehabilitation, this specialisation was created recently in Germany.Patients with brain injuries suffer quite often from anxiety, restlessness and lack of orientation. Among these patients we have found that rooming-in with relatives or close friends is of high value. The efficacy of this treatment could be demonstrated by the fact that we hardly need hypnotics or sedatives for the patient.

Keyword(s): Frührehabilitation

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