ABSTRACT
Acute respiratory failure [ARF] is one of the commonest potentially Lethal disease processes encountered in critical care Medicine. When the fraction of inspired oxygen [FIO[2]] requirement to correct hypoxemia exceeds 0.60, efforts should be made to improve the efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange. The use of prone position was proposed to improve arterial oxygenation in many studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of long term prone positioning on arterial oxygenation and respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure. Thirty patients suffering from acute respiratory failure were enrolled in this study. Patients were subjected to lung injury score, arterial gasometry, oxygen index and respiratory mechanics including peak inspiratory pressure, plateau pressure, static and dynamic compliance and airway resistance. All parameters measured in supine and position [one hour, two hours, three hours and four hours]. The mean [SD] age for the patients was 45.17 [16.65]. The mean [SD] lung injury score for the whole patients was 2.36[0.73]. The study showed significant increase in arterial oxygen tension and oxygenation index by prone positioning of patients. Both static and dynamic compliance were significantly increased in the four hours of prone position. Airway resistance, peak inspiratory pressure and plateau pressure showed insignificant reduction in prone position. Prone position in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure [ARF] improves oxygenation to a clinically important extent and also increases both static and dynamic compliance