Positioning of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: combining prone and upright makes sense

• Published in: Critical care (London, England) Vol. 15; no. 6; p. 1019
• Main Authors: Richard, Jean-Christophe M, Lefebvre, Jean-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 01.01.2011; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Acute Lung Injury - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Oxygen - blood; Patient Positioning - methods; Prone Position - physiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - therapy; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Supine Position - physiology

Positional strategies have been proposed for mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite different physiological mechanisms involved, oxygenation improvement has been demonstrated with both prone and upright positions. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Ro...