Comparison of pleural and esophageal pressure in supine and prone positions in a porcine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

In a porcine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome, we found that static end-expiratory esophageal pressure did not change significantly in prone position compared with supine position at any positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) tested between 5 and 20 cmH2O. Prone position was associated with an increased ventral pleural pressure and reduced end-expiratory dorsal-to-ventral pleural pressure (Ppl) vertical gradient, likely due to a more even distribution of mechanical forces over the chest wall.