What are the potential complications of long term bed rest and how can they be prevented?

Long-term bed rest can lead to a variety of serious complications such as bedsores, sedimentary pneumonia, muscle wasting, etc. Therefore, the caregiver needs to turn the patient over and move the limbs regularly every day.

The pressure ulcer is a kind of pressure ulcer, called bedsores, and pneumonia is very common, if you are not active, the limbs will contracture, muscle atrophy, the key is the patient's care, regularly turn over and pat the back, move the limbs, and keep the bedsore dry to avoid pressure and infection.

Pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, lung infections.

1) Functional exercise: The paralyzed limb should be kept in a functional position and the joint should be moved passively at least twice a day to prevent joint stiffness, contracture and muscle disuse atrophy.

2) Prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: for paralyzed patients, adequate fluid intake should be ensured, assist in limb activities, wear elastic stockings, etc.

3) Prevention of pressure ulcers: The patient's bed sheets should be kept dry and calm, and the patient should be assisted to turn over regularly and massage the pressure area to prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers.

4) Prevention of asphyxia: bed rest in the acute stage, generally in a flat or lateral position, with the head down and the feet high (elevate the end of the bed by 10° 15°), so as to facilitate the drainage of oral and respiratory secretions. Patients who cannot swallow territaryngeal pharynx should be inserted into a nasogastric tube as soon as possible, and the patient can be placed in a semi-sitting or sitting position during eating or 30 minutes after a meal to prevent food reflux; Tell the patient not to force food to avoid choking from aspiration.

5) Treatment of other bedridden complications: broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used according to the doctor's instructions for falling pneumonia; Lower abdominal massage can be used for urinary retention, and indwelling catheterization is required when it is ineffective; People with constipation can use senna instead of tea or soapy water enema; Signs of intestinal obstruction should be fasted.

Prolonged bed rest, first of all, may lead to deterioration of the body's cardiopulmonary function. When lying in bed, the muscles of the whole body exercise little, the metabolism slows down, and the energy metabolism and blood oxygen requirements decrease, which can lead to a decrease in the heart's need to pump blood. Cardiac function decreases at the same time as lung function, the diaphragm rises when lying down, lung capacity decreases, and the cardiopulmonary reserve capacity of long-term bed rest will be significantly reduced.

Long-term bed rest is still more harmful to the body, for example, it will lead to paralysis of the body, unable to take care of itself, unable to turn over, unable to move, decreased immunity, and very easy to catch a cold; There can also be complications such as muscle wasting or pneumonia.

If you stay in bed for a long time, it will lead to accelerated bone calcium loss, muscle atrophy, and blood circulation will slow down; It is easy to increase the chance of lung infection, and it is also easy to get bedsores, if you lack exercise, your body's immunity and your heart and lung function will decline, and you will also be prone to colds.

There are three major complications in patients who have been bedridden for a long time: bedsores, urinary tract infections, and vertebral pneumonia.

1.Pressure ulcers.

2.Pneumonia.

3.Urinary tract infections.

4.Heart failure.

5.Foot drop.