Prone positioning is increasingly used to improve gas exchange in patients with acute lung injury. However, during prone positioning an increase in intraabdominal pressure in these critically ill patients may promote dysfunction of other organs. Therefore, we performed a randomized study in mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury to investigate the cardiovascular and renal effects of prone positioning.

Prone positioning in mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury, despite a small increase in IAP, does not negatively affect the hepatic capacity to eliminate ICG and gastric intramucosal energy balance when systemic blood flow and oxygenation are improved.