RT Book, Section A1 Gattinoni, Luciano A1 Taccone, Paolo A1 Mascheroni, Daniele A1 Valenza, Franco A1 Pelosi, Paolo A2 Tobin, Martin J. SR Print(0) ID 57077598 T1 Chapter 49. Prone Positioning in Acute Respiratory Failure T2 Principles and Practice of Mechanical Ventilation, 3e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-173626-8 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57077598 RD 2024/03/28 AB Approximately 35 years ago, the use of the prone position was proposed to improve arterial oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF).1–3 The prone position, however, may have variable effects on gas exchange. Moreover, it has been suggested that, independent of gas exchange, the prone position may decrease the harm of mechanical ventilation, improving the outcome of patients with ARF. This chapter discusses the mechanisms affecting the changes in gas exchange consequent to the prone position in patients with ARF, and the effects of prone positioning on outcome of critically ill patients.