PRONE CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION

Course overview

PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (ARDS) ARE USUALLY PLACED IN A PRONE POSITION AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY TO IMPROVE VENTILATION AND OXYGENATION. SIMILARLY, CERTAIN SURGICAL PROCEDURES INVOLVING THE POSTERIOR ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES ALSO REQUIRE A PRONE POSITION FOR EASY ACCESS. THESE PATIENTS MAY SUFFER CARDIAC ARREST, NECESSITATING IMMEDIATE CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR). GIVEN THAT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT IS OFTEN NEEDED TO RETURN THESE PATIENTS TO THE SUPINE POSITION, CPR MAY HAVE TO BE INITIATED IN THE PRONE POSITION. UNLIKE CPR IN THE SUPINE POSITION, BASIC AND ADVANCED CPR IN THE PRONE POSITION IS NOT WELL KNOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS LIMITED DATA FROM AVAILABLE GUIDELINES TO STANDARDIZE PERFORMANCE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CURRENT EVIDENCE, TECHNIQUE, AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN PROVIDING PRONE CPR.