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Lippincott Nursing Pocket Card - September 2022

Prone Positioning: Non-Intubated Patient with COVID-19 ARDS

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Benefits of Prone Positioning

Based on the progress made in mechanically ventilated patients, many hospitals are encouraging intermittent prone positioning for conscious, non-intubated patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A meta-analysis of studies of proning in non-intubated COVID-19 patients found an association between prone positioning and improvement in oxygenation, without serious adverse events (Ponnapa et al, 2022). Proning is a safe, inexpensive nursing-driven intervention. The potential physiologic benefits include:

  • Improved ventilation (V)/perfusion (Q) matching and reduced hypoxemia
  • Reduced shunt
  • Recruitment of the posterior lung segments due to reversal of atelectasis
  • Improved clearance of secretions

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Criteria and Contraindications

For the conscious patient who is not receiving mechanical ventilation, consider these criteria for prone positioning:

  • Suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
  • FiO2 greater than or equal to 28% or requiring basic respiratory support to achieve SaO2 92 to 96% (88 to 92% if risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure)
  • Ability to communicate and cooperate with the procedure
  • Ability to rotate to front and adjust position independently
  • Absence of anticipated airway issues

Contraindications

Evaluate patient for the following absolute and relative contraindications:

Absolute contraindications
  • Respiratory distress
  • Immediate need for intubation
  • Hemodynamic instability (SBP less than 90 mmHg) or arrhythmia
  • Agitation or altered mental status
  • Unstable spine/thoracic injury/recent abdominal surgery
Relative Contraindications:
  • Facial injury
  • Neurological issues (i.e., frequent seizures)
  • Morbid obesity
  • Pregnancy (2nd/3rd trimesters)
  • Pressure injuries

Procedure

  1. Assist patient to prone position.
  • Explain the procedure.
  • Ensure oxygen therapy and basic respiratory support; make sure there is adequate length of tubing.
  • Use pillows, as needed, to support the chest.
  • Reverse Trendelenburg position may aid comfort and promote lung expansion.
  • Monitor oxygen saturation continuously.
  • Don’t administer sedation to facilitate prone positioning.
  1. Monitor oxygen saturation for 15 minutes.
  • Goal is SaO2 92 to 96%; 88 to 92% if risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure
  1. Continue prone positioning.
  • Change position every 1 to 2 hours with the goal of keeping the patient prone as long as possible.
  • Use timed position changes; ask the patient to switch positions as follows:
    • 30 minutes to 2 hours lying fully prone (bed flat)
    • 30 minutes to 2 hours lying on right side (bed flat)
    • 30 minutes to 2 hours sitting up (30 to 60 degrees) by adjusting head of the bed
    • 30 minutes to 2 hours lying on left side (bed flat)
    • 30 minutes to 2 hours lying prone again
    • Continue to repeat the cycle.
  • Monitor oxygen saturations 15 minutes after each position change to ensure oxygen saturation has not decreased.
  • Continue to monitor oxygen saturations as per the National Early Warning Score (NEWS).
  • When not prone, position patient supine, upright 30 to 60 degrees.
  • Titrate oxygen therapy according to patient requirements, as ordered.

If Prone Positioning is Not Tolerated

If oxygen saturations deteriorate, take the following steps:

  • Ensure oxygen is connected to patient.
  • Increase FiO2 (per facility policy or prescriber’s order).
  • Change patient position; consider return to supine position.
  • Escalate to critical care, as appropriate.
 
Discontinue prone positioning if:
  • No improvement is seen with change of position.
  • The patient is unable to tolerate position.
  • Respiratory rate increases to 35 breaths/minute or higher, the patient tires, or uses accessory muscles.
References:

Bamford, P., Bentley, A., Dean, J., Whitmore, D. & Wilson-Baig, N. (2020). ICS Guidance for Prone Positioning of the Conscious COVID Patient 2020.  https://emcrit.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-04-12-Guidance-for-conscious-proning.pdf

Ponnapa Reddy, M., Subramaniam, A., Afroz, A., Billah, B., Lim, Z. J., Zubarev, A., Blecher, G., Tiruvoipati, R., Ramanathan, K., Wong, S. N., Brodie, D., Fan, E., & Shekar, K. (2021). Prone Positioning of Nonintubated Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Critical care medicine, 49(10), e1001–e1014. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000005086

Qian, E. T., Gatto, C. L., Amusina, O., Dear, M. L., Hiser, W., Buie, R., Kripalani, S., Harrell, F. E., Jr, Freundlich, R. E., Gao, Y., Gong, W., Hennessy, C., Grooms, J., Mattingly, M., Bellam, S. K., Burke, J., Zakaria, A., Vasilevskis, E. E., Billings, F. T., 4th, Pulley, J. M., … Vanderbilt Learning Healthcare System Platform Investigators (2022). Assessment of Awake Prone Positioning in Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA internal medicine, 182(6), 612–621. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1070
 

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