title: Effect of body position on preterm newborns receiving continuous positive airway pressure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of body position on the cardiorespiratory indicators of preterm newborns receiving nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytical, observational, prospective, cross-sectional, randomised crossover study was carried out on sixteen newborns that received nasal CPAP. The infants had a mean gestational age of 29.7 ± 2 weeks and birthweight of 1353 ± 280 g. Cardiorespiratory indicators (respiratory rate, heart rate and oxygen saturation) were evaluated in each infant in the supine, prone and right and left lateral decubitus positions at intervals of 10 min over a period of 60 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cardiorespiratory indicators were similar and within the normal range in the four decubitus positions. There was no difference in respiratory or heart rate between body positions. Although they showed desirable values, oxygen saturation was significantly lower in left lateral decubitus (96.6 ± 1.7%) when compared to the supine (97.1 ± 1.3%) and prone positions (97.4 ± 1.1%) (p = 0.00) and was also significantly lower in right lateral decubitus (96.9 ± 1.4%) when compared to the prone position (p = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no preferential decubitus position for preterm newborns receiving nasal CPAP, the supine position may be a choice, but the left and right lateral positions were less advantageous in terms of oxygen saturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Franca (Unifran), Franca, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marisa Aa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brunherotti
authors.forename: Edson Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Francisco E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056152:Respiratory Rate
keywords: Body position; Continuous positive airway pressure; Newborn; Prone position; Supine position