Patient positioning in anaesthesia

We describe the considerations for the anaesthetist when positioning the surgical patient. We discuss the positions commonly used for surgical patients and relate the challenges associated with each of these positions, challenges which can be physical as well as physiological. Staffing and equipment provision levels must be adequate to cope with the complexity predicted in positioning an individual patient. The anaesthetist also needs to consider the relatively restricted access to the patient for intervention when in the prone or lateral positions.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research