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We thank Dr. Galiatsou and colleagues for their comments on our publication (1). The efficacy of prone positioning in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been tested in several recent clinical trials (2–4). These studies, although suggestive of a potential role of prone positioning to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury (5), did not reach a clear, statistically significant conclusion (6). Ongoing studies will hopefully clarify these issues.

V. Marco Ranieri

Università di Torino and Ospedale S. Giovanni Battista-Molinette, Turino, Italy

Luciano Gattinoni

"Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli, Regina Elena" di Milano and Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

Arthur S. Slutsky

University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

FOOTNOTES

Conflict of Interest Statement: V.M.R. reports serving as consultant to Maquet and having received grant support from Tyco during 2005 and 2006. L.G. received consulting and lecture fees from Kinetic Concepts (KCI) during 2005 and 2006. A.S.S. received consulting fees from BOC Medical, Hamilton Medical, Maquet, and KCI during 2005 and 2006.

REFERENCES

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4. Curley MA, Hibberd PL, Fineman LD, Wypij D, Shih MC, Thompson JE, Grant MJ, Barr FE, Cvijanovich NZ, Sorce L, et al. Effect of prone positioning on clinical outcomes in children with acute lung injury: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2005;294:229–237.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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