Pronation in The Management of Patients with ARDS by COVID-19 Cohort Study

Abstract

Maria E. Ildefonso Miron, Victor M. Gudino Carballo, Miriam Navarrete-Sandoval, and Quitzia L. Torres Salazar

Background: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge of the different stages of the disease has increased. In the most severe cases, alveolar collapse, pulmonary consolidation and imbalance in the relationship between ventilation and perfusion are observed, perpetuating hypoxemia. We have controversial evidence of the use of the prone position, with improved oxygenation and decreased mortality.

Objective: To present our experience on the effectiveness of the prone position in the management of patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study in patients with severe COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation with pO2/FiO2�?150mmHg, who were managed in a prone position.

Results: Sixty-two mostly male individuals were analyzed. Only 4.8% were normal weight, the rest were overweight/ obese, 17.7% were morbidly obese. The median pO2/FiO2 at ICU admission was 84 with a statistically significant improvement at extubation (p�?0.001). The percentage of death was 68.8%.

Conclusions: Our study identified that prone position was able to achieve an improvement in PO2/FiO2 ratio in mechanically ventilated patients secondary to COVID-19.

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