Appropriate patient position can facilitate proper physiologic function during pathophysiologic processes and can also facilitate access to certain anatomical locations during surgical procedures. Multiple factors should be considered when choosing the patient's position. These factors include patient age, weight, and size as well as past medical history including respiratory or circulatory disorders.
Most common patient positions with common indications and concerns include the following.[1][2][3][4]
Supine Position
This is the most common position for surgery with a patient lying on his or her back with head, neck, and spine in neutral positioning and arms either adducted alongside the patient or abducted to less than 90 degrees.
Supine Position Variations
Lawnchair position: A variation of supine in which the hips and knees are slightly flexed and above the level of the heart relieves pressure on the back, hips, and knees and facilitates venous drainage from the lower extremities and reduces tension on the abdominal musculature
Frog-leg position: A variation of supine in which the hips and knees are flexed, and the hips are externally rotated facilitates access to the perineum, groin, rectum and inner thigh, but the knees must be supported to avoid stress and dislocation of the hips
Trendelenburg position: A variation of supine in which the head of the bed is tilted down such that the pubic symphysis is the highest point of the trunk facilitates venous return and improves exposure during abdominal and laparoscopic surgeries
Reverse Trendelenburg position: A variation of supine in which the head of the bed is tilted upward such that the head is the highest point of the trunk facilitates upper abdominal surgery
Lithotomy Position
Commonly used during gynecologic, rectal, and urologic surgeries with a patient lying supine with legs abducted 30 to 45 degrees from midline with knees flexed and legs held supported with the foot of the bed lowered or removed to facilitate the procedure
Lateral Decubitus Position
Commonly used during surgery requiring access to the thorax, retroperitoneum, or hip with a patient lying on the nonoperative side and careful positioning of the extremities
Prone Position
Commonly used during surgery requiring access to the posterior fossa of the skull, posterior spine, buttocks or perirectal area, or lower extremities with patient lying on his or her front with head, neck, and spine maintained in neutral position; patient is turned from supine to prone while maintaining neutral position of the head, neck, and spine
Fowler's Position
Most common position for patient resting comfortably inpatient or in the emergency department with knees either straight or slightly bent and the head of the bed between 45 and 60 degrees
Lower extremity compartment syndrome is a rare but serious complication of the lithotomy position resulting from inadequate perfusion of the lower extremity. The resulting tissue ischemia, edema, and muscle breakdown increase facial compartmental pressure. Recommendations include periodically lowering the legs of patients in lithotomy position during prolonged procedures to promote perfusion.
Nerves are most commonly injured during surgical procedures secondary to external compression or stretch. The most commonly injured nerve is the ulnar nerve from malpositioning of the upper extremity in the supine position. Ensure that the arm is supinated or in the neutral position to avoid ulnar nerve compression and abducted no more than 90 degrees from the body to prevent stretch injury to the brachial plexus.[5][6][7][8]
Lower extremity nerve injuries are less common, though precautions can still be taken. Common peroneal nerve compression can result from direct compression over the fibular head in the lithotomy position; ensure proper padding between bony prominences and supports. Sciatic nerve stretch can result from flexion at the hip in lithotomy position; take care when positioning the patient to move the lower extremities in concert with one another and to prevent hyperflexion at the hip.[9][10]
Muscle strain is a less common side effect of patient positioning but can result due to patient’s inability to react to the movement of the extremities. Take care especially with the lower extremities to move simultaneously to avoid muscle and joint injury.
A significant consideration for patient positioning, especially during prolonged surgical procedures is compression and damage to underlying nervous and vascular structures. Common surgical positions and frequently associated complications can be found above. Providers should ensure that all bony prominences, as well as foreign bodies held against the patient, are appropriately padded to avoid undue pressure on the skin and soft tissues.
Proper positioning of the patient can facilitate access to anatomical locations during surgical procedures and promote appropriate physiologic function during pathologic states, for example, Trendelenburg position to increase venous return in a hypovolemic patient. Care to position the patient properly both facilitates procedural aims and aids in preventing subsequent complications.
[1] | Karkenny AJ,Mendelis JR,Geller DS,Gomez JA, The Role of Intraoperative Navigation in Orthopaedic Surgery. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2019 Feb 1; [PubMed PMID: 30720570] |
[2] | Dufault CA, Patient Care During Minimally Invasive Lateral Spine Surgery: 1.7 www.aornjournal.org/content/cme. AORN journal. 2018 Aug; [PubMed PMID: 30117551] |
[3] | Towfigh S, Inguinal Hernia: Four Open Approaches. The Surgical clinics of North America. 2018 Jun; [PubMed PMID: 29754626] |
[4] | Lukez A,O'Loughlin L,Bodla M,Baima J,Moni J, Positioning of port films for radiation: variability is present. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England). 2018 Apr 21; [PubMed PMID: 29680955] |
[5] | Hearon BF,Frantz LM, Ulnar Nerve Anterior Transmuscular Transposition in the Lateral Decubitus Position. The Journal of hand surgery. 2019 Jan 23; [PubMed PMID: 30685140] |
[6] | Kim SJ,Barlog JS,Akhavan A, Robotic-Assisted Urologic Surgery in Infants: Positioning, Trocar Placement, and Physiological Considerations. Frontiers in pediatrics. 2018; [PubMed PMID: 30666303] |
[7] | de Sa D,Sheean AJ,Morales-Restrepo A,Dombrowski M,Kay J,Vyas D, Patient Positioning in Arthroscopic Management of Posterior-Inferior Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review Comparing Beach Chair and Lateral Decubitus Approaches. Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic [PubMed PMID: 30455085] |
[8] | Mezidi M,Guérin C, Effects of patient positioning on respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Annals of translational medicine. 2018 Oct; [PubMed PMID: 30460258] |
[9] | Katz S,Arish N,Rokach A,Zaltzman Y,Marcus EL, The effect of body position on pulmonary function: a systematic review. BMC pulmonary medicine. 2018 Oct 11; [PubMed PMID: 30305051] |
[10] | Mourmouris P,Berdempes M,Markopoulos T,Lazarou L,Tzelves L,Skolarikos A, Patient positioning during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: what is the current best practice? Research and reports in urology. 2018; [PubMed PMID: 30464930] |