Small angle, big effect - head of hospital bed raised 30°
In daily nursing work, nurses often raise the head of a patient's bed by 30 degrees. So what exactly does raising the head of the bed 30 degrees mean to the patient? Let's explore the magical power of this angle!
1. The purpose of raising the head of the hospital bed
Elevating the head of the bed is crucial for recovery, infection prevention, pain relief, and disease treatment. Furthermore, maintaining a 30° to 45° head of medical bed angle for critically ill patients, unless contraindicated, can also help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Therefore, nursing care with an elevated head of bed is particularly important in the ICU bed.
2. Indications and effects of raising the head of the hospital bed
Mechanically ventilated or intubated patients
- A core measure for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), elevation ≥30° can reduce aspiration by 25%–50%.
Patients receiving enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube
‑ Maintaining 30° for 30 minutes before, during, and after nasogastric feeding can significantly reduce the risk of reflux and aspiration pneumonia.
Patients with post-cranial surgery/intracranial hypertension/cerebral hemorrhage
- 30° can reduce intracranial pressure by about 15% without excessively sacrificing cerebral perfusion pressure, and is a level I recommendation in the neurocritical care guidelines.
Acute left heart failure or severe COPD with dyspnea
- Gravity causes blood to remain in the lower limbs and pelvis, reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart. This relieves pulmonary congestion and diaphragmatic compression, and can increase blood oxygen levels by 5%–10%.
Patients after upper abdominal or pelvic surgery
- Reduce incision tension by 30%–40%, lower pain scores; drain exudate to the pelvic cavity, reducing subphrenic abscess.
Patients after esophageal or gastric surgery
- 30° It prevents gastroesophageal reflux, facilitates chest/neck drainage, and reduces the incidence of anastomotic leakage.
People who have had a stroke and are at risk of swallowing difficulties or lung infection
- 30–45° semi-recumbent position improves breathing, reduces aspiration, and serves as the standard starting angle for swallowing function assessment and rehabilitation training
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or nighttime acid reflux
- Whether for the general population or postoperative/ICU patients, 30° to 45° elevation can reduce esophageal acid exposure time by more than 50%, relieve heartburn and belching, and improve nighttime sleep quality.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- The semi-recumbent position can reduce tongue drop, maintain upper airway patency, and lower the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). It is especially suitable for situations where CPAP cannot be tolerated or is temporarily unavailable.
After surgery of the face, neck, or thyroid
- Elevating the face 30° can reduce local venous pressure, reduce oozing and facial edema, and facilitate incision drainage.
Pregnancy complicated by dyspnea or severe edema
- In late pregnancy, the diaphragm rises and the amount of blood returning to the heart increases. A 30° semi-recumbent position can relieve pulmonary congestion, relieve nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea, and reduce venous return resistance in the lower limbs.
Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35)
- When lying flat, abdominal pressure increases and functional residual capacity decreases. Elevating the body 30° can improve the lung ventilation/perfusion ratio and reduce the occurrence of hypoxemia.
Long-term bedridden patients in recovery
- 30° can be used as a "standing transition position" to prevent orthostatic hypotension, deep vein thrombosis, and reduce the shear force of pressure ulcers.
Hospice or palliative care
For terminally ill patients without contraindications, a 30° elevation can improve breathing difficulties, facilitate communication and eating, and improve comfort.
3、Contraindications for head of bed elevation
Unstable shock, severe hypotension
Definitely unfixated spinal fracture
6–8 hours after lumbar puncture or epidural anesthesia
Those who need to raise their limbs above the heart level after lower limb surgery
4. How to raise the head of the hospital bed
Visual estimation: The most commonly used method is to visually estimate the height of the head of the bed based on the experience of clinical nurses, but its accuracy is relatively poor.
Protractor method: Use the markings at the head of the bed and on the bed to measure the degree of elevation
New automatic multifunctional medical bed: comes with its own measuring table to adjust the bed.
Lingshi Medical's ICU electric beds, 5-function electric medical beds, and 3-function electric hospital beds all feature adjustable backrests, adjustable from 0-70 degrees to suit patient needs and clinical requirements. Angle indicators on the siderails make it easy for medical staff to view and adjust the backrest angle. See the following models for more information. Please feel free to contact us if you require further information.
ICU electric bed
5-function electric medical bed
3-function electric hospital bed
lingshi medical
