Early prone ventilation in the emergency department for severe refractory hypoxaemia

Abstract

Background: Prone ventilation is an established intervention in severe ARDS but is rarely initiated in the Emergency Department (ED). We report a case of an intubated woman with profound refractory hypoxaemia unresponsive to mechanical ventilation and urgent haemodialysis who demonstrated rapid oxygenation improvement following early prone positioning in the ED. The case highlights the feasibility, safety, and physiological rationale for ED proning when lung consolidation is evident.