Prone Positioning in Pregnant Patients with COVID-19 Related ARDS: A Case Series - Abstract
Objectives: To describe the clinical profile and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19–related ARDS who underwent prone positioning in a tertiary
referral center.
Design: Retrospective observational study.
Setting: Tertiary university hospital in southern Brazil.
Patients: Pregnant women ?18 years admitted to the ICU with confirmed COVID-19 and managed with prone positioning (2020–2021).
Measurements and Main Results: Seven patients were included. Mean age was 27.4 ± 3.8 years, mean gestational age 29.1 ± 3.8 weeks, mean BMI
33.1 ± 4.6 kg/m², and mean SAPS III 52.7 ± 10.1. Three (42.9%) had diabetes, two (28.6%) hypertension, and one (14.3%) was a smoker. Six (87.5%)
required vasopressors, and one (14.3%) received inhaled nitric oxide. Proning sessions ranged from 1 to 7. Four patients (57.1%) developed stage 1–2
pressure injuries, all of which resolved. No major adverse events (accidental extubation, ocular injury, or brachial plexus injury) were reported. Three patients
(42.9%) died. All neonates were delivered alive.
Conclusions: Prone positioning was feasible and did not result in major maternal complications in pregnant women with COVID-19–related ARDS,
including in the second and third trimesters. Larger studies are needed to confirm maternal and fetal safety.