Physiologic effects of steep positioning in the surgical intensive care unit

Ten hemodynamically stable patients requiring mechanical ventilation for radiographically symmetric acute lung disease were studied during steep lateral positioning and continuous rotation in a Roto Rest kinetic treatment bed. There were no significant hemodynamic or ventilatory differences among the four positions (supine, right side down, left side down, and rotating). In four patients, arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) decreased 16% to 49% in the lateral position when compared with the supine position. Continuous rotation restored the PaO2 toward the supine value in each patient. In six patients, PaO2 increased 11% to 35% during lateral positioning. In five of the six patients, the increase in PaO2 differed between sides, suggesting asymmetric lung disease. Continuous rotation did not significantly alter the PaO2 from the supine values in these patients. Adverse effects on oxygenation caused by positional changes may be reversed by continuous rotation using the Roto Rest kinetic bed.