• M Nekludov, B-M Bellander, and M Mure.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. michael.nekludov@karolinska.se
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2006 Sep 1;50(8):932-6.

BackgroundTreatment of patients in the prone position is a well-established method to improve oxygenation in general intensive care unit (ICU) practice. This method is rarely used in a neurosurgical ICU, considering the risk of intracranial hypertension. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of prone position on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and systemic oxygenation in patients with reduced intracranial compliance. We hypothesize that the beneficial effects of prone position can outweigh the hazardous effects on the intracranial pressure.MethodsEight patients with traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were studied in the supine and prone posture. Hemodynamics, arterial oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, ICP and CPP were continuously measured.ResultsA significant improvement in PaO(2) was observed in the prone position, from 12.6 +/- 1.4 kPa to 15.7 +/- 3.2 kPa (P= 0.02). Both intracranial pressure and mean arterial pressure increased in the prone position, from 12 +/- 6 to 15 +/- 4 mmHg (P= 0.03) and from 78 +/- 8 to 88 +/- 8 mmHg (P= 0.005), respectively. Arterial pressure increased to a greater extent than ICP, resulting in improved CPP, from 66 +/- 7 to 73 +/- 8 mmHg (P= 0.03) in the prone position.ConclusionsThe prone position can be used to improve the oxygenation as well as CPP in patients with traumatic brain injury or SAH. However, this method results in raised ICP, and should be used cautiously in patients with reduced intracranial compliance.

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