Eur Respir J 2002; 20:1017-1028
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2002
Prone position in acute respiratory distress syndrome
P. Pelosi1,
L. Brazzi2 and
L. Gattinoni2
1 Dept of Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Universita' degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, and 2 Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
CORRESPONDENCE: L. Gattinoni, Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
Keywords: acute respiratory distress syndrome, intensive care, oxygenation, prospective studies
Received: March 18, 2002
Accepted March 21, 2002
Abstract
In the last few years prone positioning has been used increasingly in the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and this manoeuvre is now considered a simple and safe method to improve oxygenation. However, the physiological mechanisms causing respiratory function improvement as well as the real clinical benefit are not yet fully understood. The aim of this review is to discuss the physiological and clinical effects of prone positioning in patients with ARDS.
The main physiological aims of prone positioning are: 1) to improve oxygenation; 2) to improve respiratory mechanics; 3) to homogenise the pleural pressure gradient, the alveolar inflation and the ventilation distribution; 4) to increase lung volume and reduce the amount of atelectatic regions; 5) to facilitate the drainage of secretions; and 6) to reduce ventilator-associated lung injury.
According to the available data, the authors conclude that: 1) oxygenation improves in 7080% of patients with early acute respiratory distress syndrome; 2) the beneficial effects of oxygenation reduce after 1 week of mechanical ventilation; 3) the aetiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome may markedly affect the response to prone positioning; 4) extreme care is necessary when the manoeuvre is performed; 5) pressure sores are frequent and related to the number of pronations; 6) the supports used to prone and during positioning are different and nonstandardised among centres; and 7) intensive care unit and hospital stay and mortality still remain high despite prone positioning.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Agarwal, R. Srinivas, A. Nath, and S. K. Jindal
Is the Mortality Higher in the Pulmonary vs the Extrapulmonary ARDS?: A Metaanalysis
Chest,
June 1, 2008;
133(6):
1463 - 1473.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Sud MD, M. Sud BSc, J. O. Friedrich MD DPhil, and N. K.J. Adhikari MDCM MSc
Effect of mechanical ventilation in the prone position on clinical outcomes in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 22, 2008;
178(9):
1153 - 1161.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Gattinoni MD and A. Protti MD
Ventilation in the prone position: For some but not for all?
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
April 22, 2008;
178(9):
1174 - 1176.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. A. Rauen, M. Chulay, E. Bridges, K. M. Vollman, and R. Arbour
Seven Evidence-Based Practice Habits: Putting Some Sacred Cows Out to Pasture
Crit. Care Nurse,
April 1, 2008;
28(2):
98 - 123.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Henzler, N. Hochhausen, R. Dembinski, S. Orfao, R. Rossaint, and R. Kuhlen
Parameters Derived from the Pulmonary Pressure Volume Curve, but Not the Pressure Time Curve, Indicate Recruitment in Experimental Lung Injury
Anesth. Analg.,
October 1, 2007;
105(4):
1072 - 1078.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. D. Girard and G. R. Bernard
Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS: A State-of-the-Art Review
Chest,
March 1, 2007;
131(3):
921 - 929.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Galiatsou, E. Kostanti, E. Svarna, A. Kitsakos, V. Koulouras, S. C. Efremidis, and G. Nakos
Prone Position Augments Recruitment and Prevents Alveolar Overinflation in Acute Lung Injury
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
July 15, 2006;
174(2):
187 - 197.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Fan, D. M. Needham, and T. E. Stewart
Ventilatory Management of Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
JAMA,
December 14, 2005;
294(22):
2889 - 2896.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Levy
Pathophysiology of Oxygen Delivery in Respiratory Failure
Chest,
November 1, 2005;
128(5_suppl_2):
547S - 553S.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. R. Bernard
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Historical Perspective
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
October 1, 2005;
172(7):
798 - 806.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. S. Burleson and E. D. Maki
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Journal of Pharmacy Practice,
April 1, 2005;
18(2):
118 - 131.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. von der Hardt, M.A. Kandler, M. Chada, A. Cubra, E. Schoof, K. Amann, W. Rascher, and J. Dotsch
Brief adrenomedullin inhalation leads to sustained reduction of pulmonary artery pressure
Eur. Respir. J.,
October 1, 2004;
24(4):
615 - 623.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Peces-Barba, M. J. Rodriguez-Nieto, S. Verbanck, M. Paiva, and N. Gonzalez-Mangado
Lower pulmonary diffusing capacity in the prone vs. supine posture
J Appl Physiol,
May 1, 2004;
96(5):
1937 - 1942.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Hayes-Bradley
Hypoxia from vasculitic pulmonary haemorrhage improved by prone position ventilation
Br. J. Anaesth.,
May 1, 2004;
92(5):
754 - 757.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Pelosi, D. D'Onofrio, D. Chiumello, S. Paolo, G. Chiara, V.L. Capelozzi, C.S.V. Barbas, M. Chiaranda, and L. Gattinoni
Pulmonary and extrapulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome are different
Eur. Respir. J.,
August 1, 2003;
22(42_suppl):
48s - 56s.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M Rohdin, J Petersson, M Mure, R W Glenny, S G E Lindahl, and D Linnarsson
Protective effect of prone posture against hypergravity-induced arterial hypoxaemia in humans
J. Physiol.,
April 15, 2003;
548(2):
585 - 591.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
Copyright © 2002 by the European Respiratory Society.
|