Right Lateral Positioning of Postoperative Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Right Lateral Positioning of Postoperative Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Effect on Arterial Oxygenation, Respiratory Mechanics, Hemodynamics, and Adverse Events

Directly following cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease; patients are not receiving routine turning every two hours to prevent pressure ulcers, because a negative influence on hemodynamic parameters is assumed. Investigators have suggested that lateral position may have clinically significant effects on oxygenation in cardiac surgery patients.

Sixty pediatric congenital heart disease patients were randomly assigned to two equal intervention groups

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age within 10 years with a cyanotic congenital heart disease
• Hemodynamic stability with no compromising arrhythmia
• No respiratory arrest
• Not connected with mechanical ventilation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cyanotic congenital heart disease
• Hemodynamic instability