[Clinical and experimental investigations concerning to positoning of head injured patients (author's transl)].

Changes of ICP and CVP during different elevated positionings of the upper part of the body, rotation of the head, and compression of the jugular veins were investigated in 21 patients. Upward positioning leads to ICP-decrease and slight increase of CVP, whereas head rotation and jugular vein compression lead to increased ICP, the CVP remaining almost constant. The pressure changes in the model are equivalent to those in the patients. Therefore it can be assumed that the ICP changes according to positioning are mainly physical phenomena. The conclusion in clinical use: Slight upward positioning with straight head position is optimal in head injured patients.