Use of Prone Positioning in Nonintubated Patients With COVID-19 and Hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure

Abstract

This case series describes the proportion of awake, nonintubated inpatients with COVID-19 and hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring oxygen supplementation whose Pao2 increased ≥20% with prone positioning, and their respiratory status after resuming supine positioning.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Papazian reported receiving personal fees from Air Liquide and Merck Sharp & Dohme, grants from Sedana, and nonfinancial support from Medtronic, Lowenstein, and Hamilton outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure.. Individual Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen (Pao2) Variation for Patients Who Sustained Prone Positioning (PP) for at Least 3 Hours

During PP indicates the 1 to 2 hours after proning and after PP indicates the 6 to 12 hours after resupination. Responders to PP = Pao2 increase ≥20% between before and during PP. Persistent responders to PP = Pao2 increase ≥20% between before PP and after resupination. All the persistent responders are also responders. One patient among the 15 refused arterial blood gas measurement during PP and after resupination. For 2 patients, arterial blood gas data after resupination were missing.