Systemic Effects of Immobility Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are the cardiovascular effects of immobility?
Fluid shift, reduced muscle pump, decreased stroke volume, cardiac deconditioning, and orthostatic hypotension.
What causes orthostatic hypotension in bedbound patients?
Reduced blood volume, blunted baroreceptor reflexes, impaired venous return, and myocardial thinning.
What changes in lung volume occur during prolonged bedrest?
Reduced tidal volume, residual volume, and forced vital capacity due to pressure on the diaphragm and pulmonary blood redistribution.
How does immobility affect the respiratory tract structurally?
Sputum pools in lower airways, cilia function is impaired, and bronchiole diameter decreases.
List haematological effects of immobility.
Reduced plasma volume, increased blood viscosity, decreased red cell mass, reduced VO2 max, and increased DVT risk.
What are the neurological effects of immobility?
Blunted baroreceptor reflexes, postural instability, brain tissue changes, and sensory deprivation.
What happens to bones during immobility?
Reduced osteoblast activity, continued osteoclast activity, and progressive bone density loss.
Why are pressure ulcers more likely during immobility?
Prolonged pressure over bony areas compresses blood vessels, leading to tissue ischaemia and ulcer formation.
What are the early cardiovascular effects of fluid shift due to bedrest?
Around 1 litre of fluid shifts from legs to chest, increasing venous return and intracardiac pressure.
Why does myocardial thinning occur during bedrest?
Decreased workload on the heart leads to atrophy of the myocardium, especially in the ventricles.
