An Integrative Review: Early Mobilization of Patients With External Ventriculostomy Drains in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit

CONCLUSION: There is a need to clarify best practices for early mobilization of patients with EVDs in the neurological ICU and to explore the influence of early mobilization on patients' rates of venous thromboembolism, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, catheter line-associated blood stream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and ventriculostomy-related infections. No studies measured the total time the EVD was clamped during the patient mobilization intervention or the total amount of cerebrospinal fluid drainage on the day of mobilization. Early mobilization of patients with EVDs in the neurological ICU who were permitted out of bed was universally safe and feasible, with minimal adverse events when safety checks were integrated into mobilization protocols.
Source: Journal of Neuroscience Nursing - Category: Neuroscience Tags: Literature Review Source Type: research