Efficacy and safety of prone positioning for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

This article presents an overview of a literature review on how prone posit ioning can alleviate pathophysiological changes in ARDS and improve ventila tion and perfusion. Improvement of gas exchange, efficiency of oxygenation and lung function are emphasized. Literature on the pathophysiology of ARDS , and the physiological effects of prone positioning on haemodynamics and l ung function is examined. There are both advantages and disadvantages in tu rning a patient from the supine to the prone position. There are also contr aindications in rotating between the supine and prone positions. Neverthele ss, by rotating patients with ARDS, it is possible to achieve a significant improvement in A-aDO2, decrease shunting, and therefore improve oxygenatio n without use of expensive, invasive and experimental procedures. Placing p atients with ARDS in the prone position can reduce inspiratory oxygen conce ntrations and peak inspiratory pressures, which minimizes the chance for ba rotrauma and the iatrogenic effects of hyperventilation oxygen toxicity.