key: cord-0891627-bvl3cpev
authors: Chong, Yang; Nan, Chuanchuan; Mu, Wenjing; Wang, Changsong; Zhao, Mingyan; Yu, Kaijiang
title: Effects of prone and lateral positioning alternate in high-flow nasal cannula patients with severe COVID-19
date: 2022-01-25
journal: Crit Care
DOI: 10.1186/s13054-022-03897-2
sha: f89efd5cd0bcd72cf36052659b81d655cf5accc5
doc_id: 891627
cord_uid: bvl3cpev

nan

To date, the COVID-19 pandemic remains widespread globally, placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems around the world. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) improves oxygenation and reduces the need for endotracheal intubation in comparison with standard oxygen therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 [1] . During HFNC treatment, the prone position is associated with a significant benefit on oxygenation, but the low compliance of awake patients limits the clinical application of the prone position [2] . The lateral position may also be associated with beneficial effects of gas exchange, especially in unilateral lesions [3] . Although there are studies evaluating the efficacy of both prone and lateral positioning [4, 5] , comparative studies on the efficacy of prone and lateral positions in HFNC patients with severe COVID-19 are rarely reported.

In this single-center prospective study, a total of 10 severe COVID-19 patients were included in the treatment center for severe COVID-19 patients in Heilongjiang Province of China. The severe COVID-19 patients in our study were those admitted to the ICU with PaO2/ FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg. Patients in supine position (0.5 h), left lateral position (1.5 h), supine position (0.5 h), right lateral position (1.5 h), supine position (0.5 h) , and prone position (1.5 h) treatment sequence. Blood oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were observed at each time point, and blood gas analysis was performed. (Fig. 1) . SAS v9.4 software was used for statistical analysis. Normally distributed quantitative data are described by the mean ± standard deviation (x ± s). The P values of pairwise comparisons were corrected by the Bonferroni method. The results showed that PaO 2 /FiO 2 and PaO 2 improved in the left lateral, right lateral and prone positions compared with the supine position. There was no significant difference between the left and right lateral positions, and it was independent of dominant side decubitus, but the improvement degree of PaO 2 /FiO 2 and PaO 2 was less than that of the prone position. There was no significant difference in oxygen saturation or respiration rate among different decubitus positions.

In conclusion, in HFNC patients with severe COVID-19, alternating left and right lateral positions improved oxygenation function. When the prone position is not tolerated for long periods of time, prone and lateral position alternating can be used to improve oxygenation. 

Prone positioning in high-flow nasal cannula for COVID-19 patients with severe hypoxemia: a pilot study

The down side of prone positioning: the case of a coronavirus 2019 survivor

Lateral positioning for critically ill adult patients

Effects of prone and lateral position in non-intubated patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia

Prone and lateral positioning in spontaneously breathing patients With COVID-19 pneumonia undergoing noninvasive helmet CPAP treatment

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