Non-invasive measurement of pulmonary blood flow during prone positioning in patients with early acute respiratory distress syndrome

2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg REUTERSHAN ◽  
Andre SCHMITT ◽  
Klaus DIETZ ◽  
Reinhold FRETSCHNER

In the daily clinical routine at the bedside, information on effective pulmonary blood flow (PBF) is limited and requires invasive monitoring, including a pulmonary artery catheter, to determine both cardiac output and intrapulmonary shunt. Therefore we evaluated a non-invasive method for the measurement of PBF in a clinical setting, including 12 patients with acute respiratory failure (acute respiratory distress syndrome) undergoing prone positioning. PBF was determined before (baseline), during and after prone positioning, by using a foreign gas rebreathing method with a new photoacoustic gas analyser. Values were compared with the cardiac output corrected for intrapulmonary shunt (COeff). Responders to prone positioning were defined according to the improvement of arterial oxygenation. A total of 84 measurements were performed. PBF values correlated well with COeff (R2=0.96; P<0.0001). Bias and limits of agreement (±2 S.D.) for all measurements were -0.11±0.76 litre/min. At baseline, responders showed significantly lower PBF levels than non-responders (4.8±1.0 compared with. 6.4±1.2 litre/min; P=0.03). During prone positioning, PBF increased continuously in responders and remained high after patients had been returned to the supine position. PBF was unaffected in non-responders. Mean total increase in PBF was 1.2±0.2 litre/min in responders compared with -0.4±0.2 litre/min in non-responders (P<0.0001). In conclusion, the investigated rebreathing system allows for a non-invasive determination of PBF at the bedside. The accuracy of the measurements is comparable with the thermodilution method. It is able to reliably reflect changes in PBF induced by prone positioning. Moreover, measuring PBF might be a promising tool to identify responders to prone therapy.




2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 55-60
Author(s):  
Patrick Ryan ◽  
Cynthia Fine ◽  
Christine DeForge

Background Manual prone positioning has been shown to reduce mortality among patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, but it is associated with a high incidence of pressure injuries and unplanned extubations. This study investigated the feasibility of safely implementing a manual prone positioning protocol that uses a dedicated device. Review of Evidence A search of CINAHL and Medline identified multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses that demonstrated both the reduction of mortality when prone positioning is used for more than 12 hours per day in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and the most common complications of this treatment. Implementation An existing safe patient-handling device was modified to enable staff to safely perform manual prone positioning with few complications for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. All staff received training on the protocol and use of the device before implementation. Evaluation This study included 36 consecutive patients who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit at a large academic medical center because of hypoxemic respiratory failure/acute respiratory distress syndrome and received mechanical ventilation and prone positioning. Data were collected on clinical presentation, interventions, and complications. Sustainability Using the robust protocol and the low-cost device, staff can safely perform a low-volume, high-risk maneuver. This method provides cost savings compared with other prone positioning methods. Conclusions Implementing a prone positioning protocol with a dedicated device is feasible, with fewer complications and lower costs than anticipated.



2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
M Gabrielli ◽  
F Valletta ◽  
F Franceschi ◽  

Ventilatory support is vital for the management of severe forms of COVID-19. Non-invasive ventilation is often used in patients who do not meet criteria for intubation or when invasive ventilation is not available, especially in a pandemic when resources are limited. Despite non-invasive ventilation providing effective respiratory support for some forms of acute respiratory failure, data about its effectiveness in patients with viral-related pneumonia are inconclusive. Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 infection causes life-threatening respiratory failure, weakening the lung parenchyma and increasing the risk of barotrauma. Pulmonary barotrauma results from positive pressure ventilation leading to elevated transalveolar pressure, and in turn to alveolar rupture and leakage of air into the extra-alveolar tissue. This article reviews the literature regarding the use of non-invasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 and other epidemic or pandemic viral infections and the related risk of barotrauma.



2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-265
Author(s):  
Alex Puxty ◽  
Chris Cairns ◽  
Malcolm Daniel

In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), prone positioning improves oxygenation but has no impact on mortality, except perhaps in those with Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II >50. Level of evidence: 1+ (SR based on small RCTs, conducted prior to ARDSNet – subsequent change in practice)



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