Short-Term Effect of Prone Positioning in Infants with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
The main objective is to determine the short-term effect of prone positioning in infants with infection-associated severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. The investigators compare oxygenation parameters and measurements from electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and lung ultrasonography (LUS) in mechanically ventilated infants in prone position versus supine position after surfactant administration.
• Patients hospitalized at Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Medical University Vienna.
• Patients aged \>36 weeks (corrected gestational age) and \<24 months.
• Patient intubated and mechanically ventilated for at least 6 hours, with an expected requirement of invasive ventilatory support for at least 12 hours.
• Clinical picture strongly suggestive for acute bronchiolitis or pneumonia (fever, fine crackles, prolonged expiration, lung hyperinflation and/or findings of new infiltrates consistent with acute pulmonary parenchymal disease on chest X-ray).
• Severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), defined by OSI ≥12.3 (wean FIO2 to maintain SpO2 ≤ 97% to calculate oxygen saturation index).
• Written informed consent obtained from parents.