title: An update on the prone position: Continuing Professional Development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this Continuing Professional Development module is to provide information needed to prepare for and clinically manage a patient in the prone position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prone positioning is required for surgical procedures that involve the posterior aspect of a patient. We searched MEDLINE(®) and EMBASE™ from January 2000 to January 2015 for literature related to the prone position and retrieved only original articles in English. We reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of various equipment used in prone positioning, the physiological changes associated with prone positioning, and the complications that can occur. We also reviewed strategies for the safe conduct and management of position-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased age, elevated body mass index, the presence of comorbidities, and long duration of surgery appear to be the most important risk factors for complications associated with prone positioning. We recommend a structured team approach and careful selection of equipment tailored to the patient and surgery. The systematic use of checklists is recommended to guide operating room teams and to reduce prone position-related complications. Anesthesiologists should be prepared to manage major intraoperative emergencies (e.g., accidental extubation) and anticipate postoperative complications (e.g., airway edema and visual loss).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada. rosemary.craen@lhsc.on.ca.
authors.forename: Rosemary Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Craen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D057189:Checklist; D006801:Humans; D061646:Operative Time; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016684:Prone Position; D012307:Risk Factors