Heart in ARDS

Q: During prone positioning of patients in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), the compression of heart on lungs? (select one)

A) Increases
B) Decreases


Answer:  B

Although well known since last two decades but rarely mentioned is one of the accessories but significant advantage of prone positioning in ARDS via decreased compression of heart on both the lungs. During the prone positioning, heart shifts its dependence from the posterior and medial aspects of lungs to the sternum providing more physiologic space for lungs to expand.

#pulmonary
#ARDS


Reference:

Agostoni E, Mead J. Statics of the respiratory system. In: Handbook of Physiology, Macklem P, Mead J (Eds), American Physiologic Society, Bethesda 1986. p.387.