Surat Tongyoo MD*, Warakarn Vilaichone MD*, Ranistha Ratanarat MD*, Chairat Permpikul MD*
Affiliation : * Critical Care Unit, Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Background : The effect of body position on oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
patients has long been known. Prone position improves the PaO2 in 60-70% of ARDS patients. However, the
effect of the lateral positions, which are used in routine critical care, has never been reported.
Objective : To determine whether placing the patient in a lateral position has any effect on oxygenation in
ARDS.
Materials and Methods : Prospective observational study, comparing oxygenation in ARDS patients between
supine, right and left lateral positions (>60 degree).
Results : We included 18 ARDS patients, their mean aged was 52.2+19.6 years, 14 were men and the ICU
mortality rate was 61.1%. There was no significant change in the mean PaO2, arterial blood gas parameters,
respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic parameters between the supine and decubitus positions in the
overall group. However, there was a trend toward increasing the mean PaO2 during right lateral position
compared with the supine position (90.3+29.0 vs 84.6+20.4, p=0.23). Nine patients who responded to the
right lateral position had significantly higher mean PaO2 during the right lateral position than in the supine
position (107.8+29.0 vs 85.6+21.8, p<0.0001). In this group, four patients had predominant left pulmonary
infiltration and five patients had equally bilateral pulmonary infiltration on chest X-ray. Unfortunately, the
PaO2 in three patients decreased more than 10 mmHg during right lateral decubitus.
Conclusion : The PaO2 increased while in the right lateral position in patients with predominant left pulmo-
nary infiltration or bilateral infiltration. This effect may be due to the small sample size. A further large-sized
randomized controlled study is needed.
Keywords : Acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS, Lateral position, Decubitus posture
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