Open AccessDoes proning on NIV improve oxygenation?
Author(s) -
Syed Muhammad Tahir Nasser,
Madan Narayanan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2020-235243
Subject(s) - medicine , ards , oxygenation , intubation , intensive care medicine , ventilation (architecture) , intensive care unit , acute respiratory distress , anesthesia , noninvasive ventilation , mechanical ventilation , lung , mechanical engineering , engineering
Proning intubated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an established practice to improve oxygenation temporarily. We present two cases of patients on our intensive care unit with ARDS, on non-invasive ventilation (NIV), in whom proning improved oxygenation at a stage when intubation was the next step. We discuss the mechanisms by which proning improves oxygenation as well as the potential risks proning on NIV brings, for which we make specific recommendations.