Prone positioning in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Objective: We examined the effect on survival of prone positioning as an early and continuous treatment in ARDS patients already treated with protective ventilation.

Design And Setting: Open randomized controlled trial in 17 medical-surgical ICUs.

Patients: Forty mechanically ventilated patients with early and refractory ARDS despite protective ventilation in the supine position.