Oxy-hemodynamic effects of different bed baths: a randomized crossover clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To compare the bed bath execution time using the traditional and dry method and its effects on the oxy-hemodynamic changes in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a crossover, open, randomized clinical trial, with 50 patients submitted to two types of bed bath: traditional and dry. The duration of the baths and the oxy-hemodynamic variables (tympanic and axillary temperature, arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate and mean arterial pressure), obtained at the beginning of the baths, at ten minutes, at the beginning and at the end of patient lateralization, at the end of the procedure and 15 minutes later. Paired Student’s t-test and generalized estimating equations model were used for analysis. Results: Dry bed bath was performed in less time than the traditional bath (18.59 versus 26.45 minutes; p<0.001). In traditional bath, over time, there was a reduction in axillary temperature and an increase in respiratory rate (p<0.001). In the dry bath, only the axillary temperature changed, becoming lower than the initial value (p<0.001). Conclusion: Dry bath was superior to the traditional one, due to the shorter time of execution and lesser oxy-hemodynamic instability of patients between the periods observed. Monitoring patients is essential to identify such changes.