Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prone versus supine position in mechanically ventilated children: a pilot study.
It is known that mechanically ventilated patients in the prone position have improved oxygenation compared with those supine. We did a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of prone position during mechanical ventilation, on survival in critically ill children. ⋯ Prone position in the first few hours of ventilation significantly improves gas exchange and oxygenation, reduces the mean airway pressures required to ventilate children, and may cause significant improvement in survival. Our study protocol allowed ventilator settings to be changed as needed during ventilation.