Nerve Compression Injuries After Prolonged Prone Position Ventilation in Patients With SARS-CoV-2: A Case Series

Background: Prone positioning improves oxygenation in adult respiratory distress syndrome. This procedure has been widely used during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. However, this procedure can also be responsible for nerve damage and plexopathy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 7 infectious patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent prone positioning ventilation at the San Raffaele Hospital of Milan, Italy, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Results: Clinical and neurophysiological data of 7 patients with nerve compression injuries have been reported. Conclusions: Health care workers should take into consideration the risk factors for prone positioning-related plexopathy and nerve damage, especially in patients with coronavirus disease 2019, to prevent this type of complication. (C) 2020 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

Automated summary

This study retrospectively reviewed 7 infectious patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent prone positioning ventilation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and found nerve compression injuries in these patients. Therefore, healthcare workers should consider the risk factors for prone positioning-related plexopathy and nerve damage, especially in COVID-19 patients, in order to prevent this type of complication.