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The effects of supine and prone positions on oxygenation in premature infants undergoing mechanical ventilation
Zahra Abdeyazdan1, Monirosadat Nematollahi, Zohreh Ghazavi
1Associated Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Insights
Prone positioning improves oxygenation in premature infants on mechanical ventilation. This simple, non-invasive method enhances oxygen saturation (SPO2) compared to the supine position, offering a beneficial NICU care strategy.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric respiratory medicine
- Critical care
Background:
- High oxygen concentrations in infants can cause chronic lung issues.
- Mechanical ventilation requires careful management in NICU settings.
- Optimizing infant positioning is crucial for respiratory support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of prone vs. supine positioning on oxygenation.
- To compare oxygen saturation (SPO2) levels in premature infants under mechanical ventilation.
- To assess the efficacy of different neonatal positions for respiratory support.
Main Methods:
- A non-randomized clinical trial involving 32 preterm infants on mechanical ventilation.
- Infants were sequentially placed in supine and prone positions for 120 minutes each.
- Continuous SPO2 monitoring with pulse oximetry, recorded every minute.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in SPO2 were observed during 120 minutes in either position.
- SPO2 levels were significantly higher in the prone position compared to the supine position from 15 to 120 minutes.
- Prone positioning demonstrated a sustained improvement in oxygenation.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal prone positioning is a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention.
- Prone positioning can significantly improve oxygenation in mechanically ventilated infants.
- This positioning strategy offers a valuable tool for enhancing respiratory care in the NICU.
Background:
Since the use of high concentrations of oxygen in infants may lead to chronic lung problems, using proper methods of care in infants under mechanical ventilation is one of the most important measures in NICU. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prone and supine positions on oxygenation (SPO(2)) in premature infants under mechanical ventilation and comparing infants' oxygenation in the two positions.
Methods:
In across over non randomized clinical trial study, 32 preterm infants under mechanical ventilation who had inclusion criteria were enrolled in simple convenient method. Firstly, they were placed in supine position for 120 minutes and further in prone position for 120 minutes .Their SPO(2) were monitored by pulse oximeter continuously and was recorded every minute. Data analysis was done using Software SPSS(15) by ANOVA test and post hoc test.
Results:
The data showed that during 120 minutes of exposure of infants in each position there were no significant changes in SPO(2). In addition, the SPO(2) levels in the prone position were significantly higher than the SPO(2) levels in the supine position from 15(th) minute to 120(th) minute (to the end).
Conclusions:
Neonatal positioning in prone position is a simple, non-invasive, and free of charge method that could lead to improve oxygenation in infants undergoing mechanical ventilation.
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