Efficacy of prone position in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients: A pathophysiology-based review

Table 4 Potential complications of prone positioning

Edema (facial, airway, limbs, thorax)

Pressure sores

Conjunctival hemorrhage

Compression of nerves and retinal vessels

Endotracheal tube dislocation (main stem intubation or non-scheduled extubation), obstruction or kinking

Airway suctioning difficulty

Transient hypotension or oxygen desaturation

Worsening gas exchange

Pneumothorax

Thoracic drain kinking or obstruction

Cardiac events

Inadvertent dislodging of Swan-Ganz catheter

Vascular catheter kinking or removal

Vascular catheter malfunction during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration

Deep venous thrombosis

Urinary bladder catheter or nasogastric feeding tube displacement

Enteral nutrition intolerance; vomiting; feeding complications

Need for increased sedation or muscle paralysis

Difficulty in instituting cardiopulmonary resuscitation