The goal of this prospective observational study is to estimate the prevalence of brachial plexus injury after prone positioning in patients with ARDS and to evaluate the safety of swimmer position. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Could arm positioning during pronation play a role in the development of any nerve injury at the brachial plexus level? * Is swimmer position safe when adopted during prone positioning? Participants will be studied at selective time points using EMG assessment.
Prone positioning will be performed according to the current guidelines. Particularly, face and limbs will be placed according to the "swimmer position", ensuring the face position in the direction of ventilator and limbs (one arm above head and opposite arm at side) positioned as to prevent abnormal extension or flexion against the shoulders and elbows. Patients will lie on low air loss pressure mattresses, thus avoiding the utilization of any thoraco-pelvic supports, which are not recommended. Electromyography (EMG) will be performed to evaluate the occurrence of brachial plexus injury (BPI).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
54
Electromyography (EMG) monitoring will be performed, using the instrumentation available (Nemus 2, EB Neuro, Italy), to evaluate the occurrence of brachial plexus injury (BPI). EMG will be performed at the end of each pronation cycle. To rule out BPI at ICU admission, an EMG will be performed within two hours from the first pronation maneuver. Particularly, somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and sensory action potential (SAP) will be obtained from radial, ulnar, median and sural nerves. In case patients are awake, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) will be obtained as well.
Muscle strength measure willl be assessed at ICU discharge using hand-held dynamometer.
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Milan, Italy
RECRUITINGNumber of patients with signs of brachial plexus injury (BPI)
Signs of BPI are the presence of (almost one of four EMG results): * Somatosensory Evoked Potential N20 latency of radial nerve and ulnar nerve \> 10% compared to baseline * Somatosensory Evoked Potential N20 amplitude of radial nerve and ulnar nerve \< 50% compared to baseline * Sensory Action Potential amplitude of radial nerve, ulnar nerve and median nerve \< 50% compared to baseline * Compound Motor Action Potential amplitude of ulnar and median nerve \< 50% compared to normative data (assessed before ICU discharge)
Time frame: EMG will be perform at the end of the every cycle of prone positioning (each cycle is 16 hours on average) and within 24 hours before ICU discharge
Safety of swimmer position adopted
The safety is defined in terms of: * number of patients with adverse events during prone positioning * number of patients with pressure ulcers after prone positioning * number of patients with ocular damage after prone positioning * number of patients with auricle damage after prone positioning
Time frame: The safety of the swimmer position will be evaluated within 24 hours before ICU discharge
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.