Head Elevation in Prone Position

Medical University of Vienna

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Lung Mechanics; Gas Exchange

Treatments: Procedure: Prone position with head elevation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00753129

EK 685/2007

Details and patient eligibility

About

Semi-recumbent position leads to improvement of gas exchange and lung mechanics in patients suffering from ALI or ARDS. Prone positioning leads to similar effects. To date, no data on the combination of these two positioning measures exist. The investigators hypothesize that head elevation in prone position leads to improvement in gas exchange and lung mechanics.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 89 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Mechanically ventilated
• ALI or ARDS
• No contraindications for prone position

Exclusion criteria

• Patient < 18 or > 89 years old
• Pregnancy
• Elevated intracranial pressure
• PaO2/FiO2 - ratio < 60
• ECMO
• Open abdomen
• Instable spine
• Malignant arrhythmias
• Severe hemodynamic instability

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

20 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

Start with turning to prone position without head elevation, after 2 hours 30° head elevation, after 2 hours back to PP without head elevation.

Treatment:

Procedure: Prone position with head elevation

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Start with turning to prone position with 30° head elevation, after 2 hours PP without head elevation, after 2 hours back to 0° PP.

Treatment:

Procedure: Prone position with head elevation