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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

An Educational Video Demonstration of How to Prone a Critically Ill Intubated Patient
Published on: November 30, 2022
The prone position is associated with a decrease in respiratory system compliance in healthy anaesthetized infants
1Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary, 1820 Richmond Road SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 5C7, Canada. robin.cox@crha-health.ab.ca
Abstract:
Ten healthy (ASA I or II) anaesthetized infants undergoing clubfoot surgery were studied. General anaesthesia included rocuronium, nitrous oxide and isoflurane. Volume controlled ventilation (12 ml.kg-1) was delivered via a coaxial Mapleson-D (Bain) system and a Datex AS/3 ventilator. Pulmonary mechanics were measured sequentially in the supine and prone positions using a Bicore CP-100 pulmonary function monitor. Subjects had a mean age of 6 (+/- 2) months and a mean weight of 8.3 (+/- 1.4) kg. Dynamic compliance (CDYN) and static compliance (CSTAT) were both significantly lower in the prone position than in the supine position (P < 0.0005). Mean CDYN decreased from 14.9 +/- 4.9 ml.cmH2O-1 (supine) to 11.6 +/- 3.5 ml.cmH2O-1 (prone). Mean CSTAT decreased from 10.2 +/- 2.8 ml.cmH2O-1 (supine) to 8.9 +/- 2.3 ml.cmH2O-1 (prone). No clinically significant differences in gas exchange were noted, however, on repositioning.
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