The Effects of Long-Term Prone Positioning in Patients with Trauma-Induced Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Adult respiratory distress syndrome, commonly seen in adults, is not well recognized in children. A retrospective chart review was carried out to determine the relative incidence, predisposing conditions, clinical course, and outcome of children with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Fifteen patients were identified. The most common predisposing conditions were near-drowning and near-strangulation with a noticeable absence of major trauma. Mortality was 60%. Death was most often secondary to central nervous system complications. Air leak was the most common complication of treatment. Two of six survivors suffered major neurologic handicaps. Long-term pulmonary sequelae were minimal.

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Additive Effect of Nitric Oxide Inhalation on the Oxygenation Benefit of the Prone Position in the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-199812000-00017 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 89 (6) ◽

pp. 1401-1406 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Peter Germann ◽

Gerald Poschl ◽

Christian Leitner ◽

Georg Urak ◽

Roman Ullrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Distress ◽

Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Prone Position ◽

Supine Position ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Lung Injury Score ◽

Prone Positioning ◽

Nitric Oxide Inhalation

Background The response to inhaled nitric oxide and prone positioning was investigated in 47 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome to test the hypothesis that inhalation of nitric oxide when in the prone position would result in additive improvement in oxygenation. Methods The authors prospectively studied patients of both genders who were 15 to 75 yr old and had adult respiratory distress syndrome confirmed by computed tomography (lung injury score, 3.1+/-1). Results Compared with baseline values in the supine position (T1), inhalation of 10 ppm nitric oxide for 1 h (T2) decreased the mean pulmonary artery pressure from 33+/-9 mmHg to 28+/-6 mmHg (P < 0.05; T2 vs. T1) and increased the ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) to inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2) from 115 (median first quartile [Q1] 97, median third quartile [Q3] 137) to 148 (Q1 132, Q3 196) (P < 0.05; T2 vs. T1). Cessation of nitric oxide brought the values back to baseline (T3). Two hours of prone positioning (T4) significantly increased the PaO2:FiO2 ratio (T4 vs. T3). However, after an additional hour of nitric oxide inhalation in the prone position (T5), a significant decrease of the venous admixture (from 33+/-6% to 25+/-6%; P < 0.05) and an increase of the PaO2:FiO2 ratio (from 165 [Q1 129, Q3 216] to 199 [Q1 178, Q3 316] [P < 0.05; T5 vs. T4]) were observed. Conclusions In patients with isolated severe adult respiratory distress syndrome, inhalation of nitric oxide in the prone position significantly improved oxygenation compared with nitric oxide inhalation in the supine position or in the prone position without nitric oxide. The combination of the prone position with nitric oxide inhalation in the treatment of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome should be considered.

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