Transport of awake hypoxemic probable COVID 19 patients in the prone position.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of transport with prone position on hypoxemia in hypoxemic and awake probable COVID 19 pneumonia patients.

Methods: Hypoxic and awake patients with probable COVID 19 pneumonia who were referred to the Ankara City Hospital Emergency Department from 1 April to 31 May 2020 were included in this prospective study. Patients were transported in prone position and fixed on the stretcher. During the transport, patients continued receiving 2 l per minute oxygen with nasal cannula. Arterial blood gases were obtained from the patients before and after transport. The transport time was recorded as minutes. The primary outcome of the study is the increase of partial oxygen value in the arterial blood gas of patients after transport.

Results: It was found that pO2 and SpO2 end values were statistically significantly higher in the patient group compared to the initial values. In the group with transport duration of more than 15 min, a difference was found between the initial and end values in pO2 and SpO2 parameters similar to the whole group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the initial and end values in the group with transport duration of 15 min or below.

Conclusions: Awake hypoxemic patients can be transported without complications in prone position during transport. Transports more than 15 min, prone position may be recommended because the partial oxygen pressure of the patients increases.