Physiotherapy Clinical Rotation in Cardiopulmonary and Intensive Care

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. describe what intensive care physiotherapy entails; 2. differentiate between acute care and intensive care physiotherapy; and 3. discuss precautionary and safety measures in giving intensive care physiotherapy.

Assessment of the critically ill patients in intensive care unit and implication for physiotherapy. neurological system- level of consciousness, cerebral perfusion pressure, intracranial pressure, cardiovascular system- heart rate and rhythm, arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, respiratory system– mode of ventilation, humidification, oxygen therapy, respiratory rate, airway pressure, auscultation, percussion note, chest examination, chest radiograph, renal system, haematological/immunological system, GIT, musculoskeletal system. Mechanical ventilation, intubation, weaning. Condition requiring intensive care: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), inhalation burns, head injury, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, tetanus, bulbar poliomyelitis. Physiotherapy technique – mechanical ventilation, care of unconscious patient. Common problems in intensive care unit-de-saturation, cardiopulmonary arrest, self extubation, blocked endotracheal tube. Acute Care: Managements of patients following partial or total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, Iliazarov procedure and many others. Importance of early mobilisation of patients out of bed (special consideration for geriatric patients). Precautionary and safety measures in intensive and acute care.