Early application of prone position for management of Covid-19 patients

• Published in: Journal of clinical anesthesia 2020-11, Vol.66, p.109917-109917, Article 109917
• Main Authors: Golestani-Eraghi, Majid, Mahmoodpoor, Ata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviruses; Correspondence; COVID-19; Humans; Intubation; Mortality; Pandemics; Patients; Pneumonia, Viral; Prone Position; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 0952-8180; 1873-4529
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2020.109917

Each physician should consider factors like diffuse pulmonary edema and dependent alveolar collapse, elevated intra-abdominal pressure or decreased chest wall compliance of patients before performing PP. [...]although routine PP is not recommended in obese patients because of more procedural challenges, this intervention can be performed in obese COVID-19 patients. [...]at this critical moment in the global outbreak of COVID-19, our simple and effective clinical expert-guided management can help to achieve success in the battle against the high mortality of COVID-19. Variable Value Number 10 patients Mean duration of PP 9 h Oxygenation Before 46.34 ± 5.23 After 62.54 ± 4.57 Sustained improvement (12 mmHg) in SpO2 after 1 h 60% Delayed positive results after 12 h (one of them was finally intubated) 30% Tolerated and discharged from ICU 80% Intubated and expired 20% Severe complications (hypotension or desaturation during rotating) 0% Table 1 Patients' characteristics during the study.