Trendelenburg position

Old depiction of the Trendelenburg position

Trendelenburg position In Surgery

Reverse Trendelenburg position

In the Trendelenburg position, the body is laid supine, or flat on the back with the feet higher than the head by 15-30 degrees. The reverse Trendelenburg position similarly has the body flat, but the head is 15-30 degrees higher than the feet.

The Trendelenburg position is used frequently in surgery, especially of the abdomen and genitourinary system. It allows better access to the pelvic organs as gravity pulls the intra-abdominal organs away from the pelvis. The position was named for the German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg (1844 – 1924).^[1] Despite the lack of evidence to support it, the Trendelenburg position is often used for patients in hypovolemic shock, with the goal of maintaining blood flow to the brain.^[2]

Current uses

• The Trendelenburg position can be used to treat a surgical air embolism by placing the right ventricular outflow tract inferior to the right ventricular cavity, causing the air to migrate superiorly into a position within the right ventricle from which air is less likely to embolize.^[3]
• The Trendelenburg position along with the Valsalva maneuver, termed as modified-Valsalva maneuver, can also be used for the cardioversion of supraventricular tachycardia.^[4]
• The Trendelenburg position is helpful in surgical reduction of an abdominal hernia.^[5]
• The Trendelenburg position is also used when placing a central venous catheter in the internal jugular or subclavian vein. The Trendelenburg position uses gravity to assist in the filling and distension of the upper central veins, as well as the external jugular vein. It plays no role in the placement of a femoral central venous catheter.^[6]
• The Trendelenburg position can also be used in respiratory patients to create better perfusion.^[7]
• The Trendelenburg position has occasionally been used to produce symptomatic relief from septum posticum cysts of the subarachnoid space in the spinal cord, but does not bring about any long term benefits.^[8]
• The Trendelenburg position may be used for drainage images during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.^[9]

Controversial uses

• People with hypotension (low blood pressure) have historically been placed in the Trendelenburg position in hopes of increasing their cerebral perfusion pressure (the blood pressure to the brain). A 2005 review found the "Literature on the position was scarce, lacked strength, and seemed to be guided by 'expert opinion.'"^[10] A 2008 meta-analysis found adverse consequences to the use of the Trendelenburg position and recommended it be avoided.^[11] However, the passive leg raising test is a useful clinical guide to fluid resuscitation and can be used for effective autotransfusion.^[12]
• The Trendelenburg position used to be the standard first aid position for shock.^[13]
• The Trendelenburg position can also be used in the treatment of scuba divers afflicted with decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism.^[14] Many experienced divers still believe this position is appropriate, but current scuba first aid professionals no longer advocate elevating the feet higher than the head. The Trendelenburg position in this case increases regurgitation and airway problems, causes the brain to swell, increases breathing difficulty, and has not been proven to be of any value.^[15] "Supine is fine" is a good, general rule for victims of submersion injuries unless they have fluid in the airway or are breathing, in which case they should be positioned on the side.

See also

• Trendelenburg gait
• Trendelenburg's sign
• Fowler's position
• High Fowlers position
• Recovery position
• Semi-Fowlers position

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trendelenburg position.

• Illustration of position in comparison to other positions
• Human Kinetics' Victim Positioning
• According to The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia