Prone Position for Non-intubated Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure

Prone Position for Non-intubated Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure

The study will test the hypothesis that the prone position can be used to reduce the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• bilateral pulmonary infiltrates or unilateral infiltrates involving more than one lobe on CXR
• PaO2/FIO2 < 40 kPa
• RR > 25, or attending intensivist considering likelihood of intubation > 50%

Exclusion Criteria:

• unsuited for the prone position
• fulfilled inclusion criteria for more than 5 days (120 h)
• immunosuppression
• chronic lung disease
• decision of withdrawal or limitation of therapy
• pulmonary infiltrates of cardiac origin
• decreased GCS level
• PaCO2 > 10
• attending intensivist considering the patient unsuited for the prone position
• BMI > 33