ICU Vivas · ARDS & lung protection
Prone positioning: technique, equipment and complications
A CICM equipment and procedures viva on prone positioning — the mortality-reducing therapy for severe ARDS. The candidate explains why proning works physiologically, the kit and the staffing for a safe turn, the absolute and relative contraindications, and the structured prevention of the pressure, nerve, tube and eye injuries that complicate the technique.
On this page
Study tools
Target exams
CICMFFICMEDIC
Prompt
Describe how you prone a ventilated patient with severe ARDS — the rationale, the equipment and team required, the contraindications, and the complications you must prevent.
Stimulus
You are asked to explain prone positioning for a ventilated patient with severe ARDS: why you do it, what equipment and team you need, how you perform the turn safely, who you would not prone, and the complications you actively prevent.[1]
[1]References4ShowHide
- [1]Guérin C, Reignier J, Richard JC, et al. Prone Positioning in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine, 2013.PMID 23688302
- [2]Gattinoni L, et al. Regional Physiology of ARDS. Critical Care, 2017.PMID 29297365
- [3]Bersten AD, Soni N (eds) Oh's Intensive Care Manual. 8th edition, Elsevier, 2018.
- [4]Marino PL The ICU Book. 4th edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014.