Pronation Technique in ARDS Patients

In severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), characterized by the ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen over fraction of inspired oxygen (P/F) less than 150 mm Hg, pronation cycles are the only intervention that showed improved survival, in combination with protective ventilation. The physiological advantages of performing pronation cycles, such as the improvement of oxygenation, better tidal volume distribution with increased involvement of dorsal regions, and easier drainage of secretions, overcome the possible complications, that is, endotracheal tube occlusion or misplacement, pressure ulcers, and brachial plexus injury. However, the incidence of complications is dramatically lower in intensive care units with expertise, adopting prone positioning in daily practice. In this video we are proposing step by step an easy and ergonomic technique to perform pronation maneuvers in patients with severe ARDS. Recent literature suggests that a high percentage of these patients are treated without undergoing pronation cycles. The main purpose of this video is to help increase the number of intensive care units worldwide commonly performing pronation cycles in patients that have indications to be pronated, in order to decrease healthcare burden and costs directly caused by ARDS. Proper intensive care unit staff training is fundamental in minimizing the risks associated with the maneuver for both patients and operators; and diffusion of a safe technique encouraging the operators is the second main purpose of this video. (This video was recorded before the COVID-19 outbreak)