Prone positioning in postoperative cardiac surgery patients: a narrative review

Limited data are available on the use of prone position in cardiac surgery. Concerns in performing this maneuver in open-heart surgery due to the risk of post-sternotomy wound infections and hemodynamic instability do not seem to be supported by existing evidence. Indeed, available data show that prone positioning may improve gas exchange in cardiac surgery patients as well. However, previous studies of prone positioning in this setting were heterogeneous in terms of patient characteristics and outcomes evaluated.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research