The efficacy and safety of prone positioning in adults patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

So Young Park; Hyun Jung Kim; Kwan Ha Yoo; Yong Bum Park; Seo Woo Kim; Seok Jeong Lee; Eun Kyung Kim; Jung Hyun Kim; Yee Hyung Kim; Ji-Yong Moon; Kyung Hoon Min; Sung Soo Park; Jinwoo Lee; Chang-Hoon Lee; Jinkyeong Park; Min Kwang Byun; Sei Won Lee; ChinKook Rlee; Ji Ye Jung; Yun Su Sim

doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.12.49

The efficacy and safety of prone positioning in adults patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

J Thorac Dis. 2015 Mar;7(3):356-67. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.12.49.

Authors

So Young Park¹, Hyun Jung Kim¹, Kwan Ha Yoo¹, Yong Bum Park¹, Seo Woo Kim¹, Seok Jeong Lee¹, Eun Kyung Kim¹, Jung Hyun Kim¹, Yee Hyung Kim¹, Ji-Yong Moon¹, Kyung Hoon Min¹, Sung Soo Park¹, Jinwoo Lee¹, Chang-Hoon Lee¹, Jinkyeong Park¹, Min Kwang Byun¹, Sei Won Lee¹, ChinKook Rlee¹, Ji Ye Jung¹, Yun Su Sim¹

Affiliation

¹ 1 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kandong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; 2 Institute for Evidence-based Medicine, The Korean Branch of Australasian Cochrane Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea ; 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; 4 Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Medical Center and Ewha Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; 5 Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea ; 6 Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 7 Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; 8 Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea ; 9 Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; 10 Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Wonkwang University, Sanbon Hospital, Sanbon, Korea ; 11 Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; 12 Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea ; 13 Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea ; 14 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

PMID: 25922713
PMCID: PMC4387391
DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.12.49

Abstract

Background: Prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has no impact on mortality despite significant improvements in oxygenation. However, a recent trial demonstrated reduced mortality rates in the prone position for severe ARDS. We evaluated effects of prone position duration and protective lung strategies on mortality rates in ARDS.

Methods: We extensively searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on prone positioning during acute respiratory failure in adults for inclusion in our meta-analysis.

Results: Eight trials met our inclusion criteria, Totals of 1,099 and 1,042 patients were randomized to the prone and supine ventilation positions. The mortality rates associated with the prone and supine positions were 41% and 47% [risk ratio (RR), 0.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.82-0.98, P=0.02], but the heterogeneity was moderate (P=0.01, I(2)=61%). In a subgroup analysis, the mortality rates for lung protective ventilation (RR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.62-0.86, P=0.0002) and duration of prone positioning >12 h (RR 0.75, 95% CI, 0.65-0.87, P<0.0001) were reduced in the prone position. Prone positioning was not associated with an increased incidence of cardiac events (RR 1.01, 95% CI, 0.87-1.17) or ventilator associated pneumonia (RR 0.88, 95% CI, 0.71-1.09), but it was associated with an increased incidence of pressure sores (RR 1.23, 95% CI, 1.07-1.41) and endotracheal dislocation (RR 1.33, 95% CI, 1.02-1.74).

Conclusions: Prone positioning tends to reduce the mortality rates in ARDS patients, especially when used in conjunction with a lung protective strategy and longer prone position durations. Prone positioning for ARDS patients should be prioritized over other invasive procedures because related life-threatening complications are rare. However, further additional randomized controlled design to study are required for confirm benefit of prone position in ARDS.

Keywords: Prone positioning; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); mortality.