Use of the Trendelenburg position as the resuscitation position: to T or not to T?
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on use of the Trendelenburg position as a position for resuscitation of patients who are hypotensive.


METHODS
PubMed online, cited bibliographies, critical care textbooks, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support guidelines were searched for information on the position used for resuscitation. Because of the heterogeneity of the data, only pertinent articles and chapters were summarized.


RESULTS
Eight peer-reviewed publications on the position used for resuscitation were found. Pertinent information from 2 critical care textbooks and from the Advanced Cardiac Life Support guidelines was included in the review. Literature on the position was scarce, lacked strength, and seemed to be guided by "expert opinion."


CONCLUSIONS
The general "slant" of the available data seems to indicate that the Trendelenburg position is probably not a good position for resuscitation of patients who are hypotensive. Further clinical studies are needed to determine the optimal position for resuscitation.
Bridges
Natalie
N
The Neurointensive Care Unit, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Jarquin-Valdivia
Adrian A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018475:Head-Down Tilt; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D012769:Shock / Q000628:therapy*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology