Prone position in anaesthesia and intensive care

The prone position has been introduced in healthy anaesthetised subjects to expose the surgical area and also during acute respiratory failure (ARF) to improve the drainage of secretions. Literature reports are now appearing on the effects of the prone position either on gas exchange or on respiratory mechanics. In this paper the authors discuss the data obtained when normal subjects or ARF patients are turned from supine to prone, and present the 'state of the art' concerning the use of the prone position either in anaesthesia or in intensive care