Effect of posture on oxygenation, lung volume, and respiratory mechanics in premature infants studied before discharge.

Objectives: To determine if the prone versus the supine posture was associated with higher oxygenation levels in prematurely born infants before discharge, whether any such effect was explained by alterations in lung volume or respiratory mechanics, and if the changes were greater in oxygen-dependent infants.

Patients: Twenty infants (10 oxygen-dependent), median gestational age 30 (range: 27-32) weeks, were studied at a median postconceptional age of 35 weeks (range: 32-38 weeks).

Methods: On 2 successive days, infants were studied both supine and prone; each posture was maintained for 3 hours.