Prone position in patients with respiratory insufficiency secondary to COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To verify the effects of the prone position in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19, investigating epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data. Methods: This is a longitudinal and retrospective study, carried out in a philanthropic hospital in the northwest region of the state of Espírito Santo. The study included 33 patients diagnosed with ARDS secondary to COVID-19, on invasive mechanical ventilation, prone twice during hospitalization in the adult intensive care unit admitted from June 2020 to February 2022. Shapiro Wilk's was used. and the Mann-Whitney test to compare the two groups. Results: As a result, there was a reduction in the value of PaO₂ 17.03 – 13.80; (p=0.220) and SatO₂ 4.11 – 2.67; (p= 0.162) and an increase in FiO2 -0.14 - -0.01; (p=0.006) in the evaluated sample. Also noteworthy is the reduction in the PaO₂/FIO₂ ratio 49.05 – 30.77; (p=0.093), without statistical significance. There was an increase in the ventilatory parameter of PEEP -0.30 – 0.12; (p=0.434). Conclusion: It is concluded that the prone position influenced the supply of inspired oxygen fraction – FiO2, with a statistically significant value, and there was no significant improvement in the PaO2/FiO2, SatO2 or PaO2 ratios. In addition, an increase in lactate values ​​was observed.