proning
Therapeutic positioning of critically ill patients face-down to improve oxygenation and lung mechanics.
Full Definition
Proning, or prone positioning, is a specialized nursing and respiratory therapy intervention where patients are carefully turned face-down to optimize ventilation-perfusion matching and improve oxygenation. In surgical critical care, proning is primarily used for patients with severe ARDS or refractory hypoxemia following major surgery. The procedure requires a multidisciplinary team approach due to the complexity of repositioning intubated patients with multiple lines, tubes, and monitoring devices. Contraindications include spinal instability, recent abdominal surgery, and certain cardiac conditions.
Usage
Usage note: Note the gerund form 'proning' rather than 'prone positioning' in clinical shorthand.
In Context
- "The patient was placed in proning for 16 hours to improve oxygenation." — ICU nursing note
- "Proning resulted in significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio." — Respiratory therapy assessment