Diseño de un modelo de ronda de seguridad para unidades de cuidados intensivos / Design of a safety round model for intensive care units

Introducción: Las rondas de seguridad (RS) son una herramienta operativa que permite conocer la adherencia a las buenas prácticas, ayuda a identificar riesgos e incidentes en seguridad del paciente (SP), permitiendo implementar acciones de mejora. El objetivo de este trabajo fue el diseño de un procedimiento para realizar RS en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). Métodos: Elaboración de un listado de verificación para el desarrollo de RS en una UCI mediante técnica de grupo nominal, con la participación de directivos, mandos intermedios y profesionales de diferentes disciplinas y categorías. En primer lugar, un grupo de expertos consensuó, atendiendo a las recomendaciones en buenas prácticas en SP, la definición de ítems, su codificación, los criterios de cumplimiento y el impacto de su incumplimiento. Posteriormente, determinó su viabilidad mediante un estudio transversal a través del pilotaje de 2 RS para ajustar los ítems en condiciones de práctica clínica real. Resultados: Se ha obtenido un modelo de RS específico para UCI mediante un listado de verificación. El grupo de expertos elaboró un primer listado compuesto por 39 ítems de 6 dimensiones esenciales y definió el modo de realización. El tiempo medio de realización de las 2 RS fue de 85minutos, incluyendo el briefing y debriefing posterior. Tras el pilotaje de validación se redujo las dimensiones a 5, se suprimió 3 ítems, se trasladó 2 ítems a otra dimensión y se modificó 3 ítems relativos a infecciones nosocomiales y consentimiento informado. Además, se redefinieron las fuentes de datos, los criterios de cumplimiento y su peso relativo. El listado definitivo fue considerado útil y relevante para mejorar la práctica. Conclusiones: Mediante una metodología de consenso se ha construido un listado de verificación para ser usado en las RS de una UCI. Este modelo puede servir de base para su empleo en servicios asistenciales de similares características.(AU)

Introduction: Safety Rounds (SR) are an operational tool that allow knowing adherence to good practices, help identify risks and incidents in patient safety (PS), allowing improvement actions to be implemented. The objective of this work was the design of a procedure to perform SR in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: Preparation of a checklist for the development of SR in the ICU through the nominal group technique, with the participation of managers, middle managers and professionals from different disciplines and categories. In the first place, a group of experts agreed, based on the recommendations on good practices in PS, the definition of items, their coding, the criteria for compliance and the impact of non-compliance. Subsequently, its viability was determined through a cross-sectional study through the piloting of two SRs to adjust the items in real clinical practice conditions. Results: A specific SR model for ICUs has been obtained through a checklist. The group of experts prepared a first list made up of 39 items of 6 essential dimensions and defined the method of implementation. Mean time to complete the two SRs was 85minutes, including the briefing and subsequent debriefing. After the validation pilot, the dimensions were reduced to 5, 3 items were deleted, 2 items were transferred to another dimension and 3 items related to nosocomial infections and informed consent were modified. In addition, the data sources, the compliance criteria and their relative weight were redefined. The final list was considered useful and relevant to improve practice. Conclusions: Through a consensus methodology, a checklist has been built to be used in the RS of an ICU. This model can serve as a basis for its use in healthcare services with similar characteristics.(AU)

Design of a safety round model for intensive care units.

INTRODUCTION: Safety Rounds (SR) are an operational tool that allow knowing adherence to good practices, help identify risks and incidents in patient safety (PS), allowing improvement actions to be implemented. The objective of this work was the design of a procedure to perform SR in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). METHODS: Preparation of a checklist for the development of SR in the ICU through the nominal group technique, with the participation of managers, middle managers and professionals from different disciplines and categories. In the first place, a group of experts agreed, based on the recommendations on good practices in PS, the definition of items, their coding, the criteria for compliance and the impact of non-compliance. Subsequently, its viability was determined through a cross-sectional study through the piloting of two SRs to adjust the items in real clinical practice conditions. RESULTS: A specific SR model for ICUs has been obtained through a checklist. The group of experts prepared a first list made up of 39 items of 6 essential dimensions and defined the method of implementation. Mean time to complete the two SRs was 85 min, including the briefing and subsequent debriefing. After the validation pilot, the dimensions were reduced to 5, 3 items were deleted, 2 items were transferred to another dimension and 3 items related to nosocomial infections and informed consent were modified. In addition, the data sources, the compliance criteria and their relative weight were redefined. The final list was considered useful and relevant to improve practice. CONCLUSIONS: Through a consensus methodology, a checklist has been built to be used in the RS of an ICU. This model can serve as a basis for its use in healthcare services with similar characteristics.

Tratamiento endobronquial de neumotórax persistente en síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda / Endobronchial treatment of persistent pneumothorax in acute respiratory distress syndrome

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Factor de impacto, una herramienta imperfecta pero imprescindible / Impact factor, anim perfect but essential tool

No disponible

[Ophthalmic presentation of two cases of esthesioneuroblastoma]. / Debut oftalmológico de dos casos de estesioneuroblastoma.

PURPOSE/METHOD: To report the ophthalmologic presentation of two cases of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). A comprehensive ophthalmic assessment was made, including magnetic resonance imaging. A paranasal sinus mass was biopsied in one case and a nasal mass biopsied in the other. CASES REPORT/DISCUSSION: Two women, aged 85 and 32 years respectively, presented to the emergency room with ophthalmic symptoms and signs. The first reported orbital pain and eyelid edema and the second, who was 22 weeks pregnant, reported a spontaneous lower eyelid haematoma, orbital pain and rhinorrhoea. ENB is a rare malignant tumour and its presentation with ophthalmologic symptoms and signs is very infrequent.

Debut oftalmológico de dos casos de estesioneuroblastoma / Ophthalmic presentation of two cases of esthesionneuroblastoma

Objetivo/Método: Presentar el debut de dos casos de estesioneuroblastoma (ENB) con manifestaciones oftalmológicas. Se realizó una exploración oftalmológica completa y estudios de imagen consistentes de Resonancia Magnética (RM). En un caso se realizó biopsia de una masa sinusal y en el otro de una masa nasal. Caso clínico/Discusión: Dos mujeres de 85 y 32 años, esta última embarazada de 21 semanas, acudieron de urgencia por síntomas y signos oculares. El primer caso refería dolor orbitario y edema de párpado y el segundo hematoma palpebral inferior espontáneo, dolor orbitario y rinorrea. El ENB es un tumor maligno poco frecuente que puede debutar con sintomatología oftalmológica

Purpose/Method: To report the ophthalmologic presentation of two cases of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). A comprehensive ophthalmic assessment was made, including magnetic resonance imaging. A paranasal sinus mass was biopsied in one case and a nasal mass biopsied in the other. Cases Report/Discussion: Two women, aged 85 and 32 years respectively, presented to the emergency room with ophthalmic symptoms and signs. The first reported orbital pain and eyelid edema and the second, who was 22 weeks pregnant, reported a spontaneous lower eyelid haematoma, orbital pain and rhinorrhoea. ENB is a rare malignant tumour and its presentation with ophthalmologic symptoms and signs is very infrequent (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2008; 83: 317-320)

[Current concepts of pathophysiology, monitoring and resolution of pulmonary edema]. / Conceptos actuales en la fisiopatología, monitorización y resolución del edema pulmonar*

Pulmonary edema, both in its lesional as well as hydrostatic version, is a frequent cause of acute respiratory failure. From the pathophysiological point of view, the most important advance is undoubtedly the knowledge that the reabsorption process of pulmonary edema is an active process with energy consumption. This concept has revolutionized this field due to the possibility of finding substances or factors that stimulate or inhibit this reabsorption. Furthermore, in the monitoring field, significant advances have also been experimented due to the possibility of quantifying the edema in a simple and reliable way with transpulmonary thermodilution.

Conceptos actuales en la fisiopatología, monitorización y resolución del edema pulmonar / Current concepts of pathophysiology, monitoring and resolution of pulmonary edema

El edema de pulmón, tanto en su versión lesional como hidrostática, es una causa frecuente de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda. Desde un punto de vista fisiopatológico, el avance más trascendente es sin duda el conocimiento de que el proceso de reabsorción del edema pulmonar es un proceso activo con consumo de energía. Este concepto ha revolucionado este campo ante la posibilidad de encontrar substancias o factores que estimulen o inhiban esta reabsorción. Asimismo, en el campo de la monitorización también se han experimentado avances significativos por la posibilidad de cuantificar el edema de forma simple y fiable mediante la termodilución transpulmonar

Pulmonary edema, both in its lesional as well as hydrostatic version, is a frequent cause of acute respiratory failure. From the pathophysiological point of view, the most important advance is undoubtely the knowledge that the reabsorption process of pulmonary edema is an active process with energy consumption. This concept has revolutionized this field due to the possibility of finding substances or factors that stimulate or inhibit this reabsorption. Furthermore, in the monitoring field, significant advances have also been experimented due to the possibility of quantifying the edema in a simple and reliable way with transpulmonary thermodilution

Variabilidad en el manejo del infarto agudo de miocardio en el registro ARIAM en el año 2002 / Variability in the management of acute myocardial infarction in the ARIAM registry in the year 2002

Objetivo. Analizar las diferencias en el manejo del infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) entre las distintas comunidades autónomas de los hospitales participantes en el registro ARIAM durante el año 2002. Diseño. Registro multicéntrico nacional de base hospitalaria de pacientes ingresados en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos (UCIC) por sospecha de síndrome coronario agudo. Ámbito. UCIC de 80 hospitales españoles de 14 comunidades autónomas. Pacientes o participantes. Se incluyen todos los pacientes del registro ARIAM del año 2002 cuyo motivo de ingreso hospitalario es IAM de menos de 24 horas de evolución. Intervenciones. Ninguna Variables de interés principales. Se registraron variables demográficas, antecedentes, clínicas, retrasos y lugar de actuación inicial, uso de técnicas diagnósticas y terapéuticas, tiempos de estancia y morbimortalidad. Se agruparon los casos por áreas geográficas que corresponden a las diferentes comunidades autónomas de España. Se analizaron las diferencias mediante el uso del coeficiente de variación (CV). Resultados. Se incluyeron 6.820 pacientes. Las características basales fueron similares, salvo para la presencia de diabetes como factor de riesgo (CV: 21%). Los CV excesivos correspondieron al modo de acceso al sistema sanitario (061: 29%), lugar de realización de la fibrinolisis (extrahospitalaria: 155%, urgencias: 120%), tipo de fibrinolítico (rTPA: 78%), retrasos intrahospitalarios (puerta-aguja: 24% y puerta-balón: 39%), uso de angioplastia coronaria transluminal percutánea (ACTP) primaria (122%), realización de coronariografía (75%) y tratamiento con anti-IIb/IIIa (34%). La mortalidad en UCIC global fue del 8,0%, con un CV de 16%. Conclusiones. Existen diferencias en el manejo del IAM entre las distintas comunidades autónomas estudiadas, especialmente en lo concerniente a la atención prehospitalaria y el uso de las técnicas de revascularización. Sin embargo, en la población estudiada, no se traducen en diferencias significativas respecto al resultado a corto plazo

Objective. Analyze the differences in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between the different regional communities of the hospitals participating in the ARIAM registry during the year 2002. Design. Hospital based multicenter, national registry of patients admitted to cardiology intensive care units (CICU) due to suspicion of acute coronary syndrome. Scope. CICU of 80 Spanish hospitals in 14 regional communities. Patients or participants. All the patients from the ARIAM registry in the 2002 whose cause of hospitalization is AMI of less than 24 hours evolution are included. Interventions. None. Variables of principal interest. Demographic variable, background, symptoms, delays and site of initial action, use of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, stay time and morbidity-mortality were recorded. The cases were grouped by geographic areas that correspond to the different regional communities of Spain. Differences were analyzed with the variation coefficient (VC).Results. A total of 6,820 patients were included. Basal characteristics were similar, except for the presence of diabetes as risk factor (VC: 21%). Excessive variation coefficients corresponded to way of access to health care system (061: 29%), site fibrinolysis was done (community: 155%, emergency service: 120%), fibrinolytic type (rTPA: 78%), interhospital delays (door-to-needle: 24% and door-to-balloon: 39%), use of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (122%), conduction of coronariography (75%) and treatment with anti-IIb/IIIa (34%). Global mortality in the CICU was 8.0%, with a 16% VC. Conclusions. There are differences in the management of AMI between the different regional communities studied, especially in that regarding prehospital care and the use of revascularization techniques. However, no significant differences are found in the study population regarding short term result

[Sublingual immunotherapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Review of 30 cases]. / Inmunoterapia sublingual en la rinitis alérgica estacional. Revisión de 30 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Specific immunotherapy consists in administering increasing doses of antigen, to which the patient is sensitive, to determine a protective immune response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective review of 30 patients diagnosed of seasonal allergic rhinitis, all treated with specific immunotherapy. Data on age, gender, symptoms, prick test before and after the immunotherapy administration, drugs, efficacy and side effects, were recorded using the SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: 90% had moderated symptoms and 10% had severe symptoms and asthma. 33% were sensitized to grass pollen. 60% needed antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids before the immunotherapy. In a lot of cases (80%) there were no side effects. The complete desensitization occurred in 53.3% and the reduction of symptoms in 73% of the cases. 54% of the patients didn't need treatment after specific immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The specific immunotherapy is the only curative therapy. Sublingual therapy is one of the most accepted because is well tolerated, it uses a higher allergen concentration, it reduces the symptoms and the needs of drugs and side effects are uncommon.

Inmunoterapia sublingual en la rinitis alérgica estacional. Revisión de 30 pacientes / Sublingual immunotherapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Review of 30 cases

Introducción: La inmunoterapia es la administración de dosis crecientes del antígeno responsable del proceso alérgico para determinar una tolerancia inmunológica adecuada. Pacientes y Métodos: Se realiza un estudio descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo en 30 pacientes diagnosticados de rinitis alérgica estacional, tratados con inmunoterapia sublingual. Se analizan una serie de variables (edad, género, síntomas, test cutáneo pre y posvacunación, tratamientos, evolución y efectos secundarios) con el programa estadístico SPS-S. Resultados: El 90% presentaba síntomas moderados y el 10% síntomas severos y asma. Los alérgenos más frecuentes fueron las gramíneas (33,3%). El 60% delos pacientes precisaba antihistamínicos y corticoides tópicos prevacunación. En el 80% no hubo efectos secundarios. La desensibilización completa ocurrió en el 53,3% de los pacientes y en el 73% hubo una mejoría clínica. El 54% de los casos no precisaba tratamiento posvacunación. Conclusiones: La inmunoterapia ha demostrado ser el único tratamiento curativo, siendo la vía sublingual una de las más aceptadas, ya que usa mayor dosis de alergeno, es bien tolerada, disminuye la sintomatología y la necesidad de tratamiento y los efectos secundarios son mínimos

Introduction: Specific immunotherapy consists in administering increasing doses of antigen, to which the patientis sensitive, to determine a protective immune response. Patients and Methods: A descriptive and retrospective review of 30 patients diagnosed of seasonal allergic rhinitis, all treated with specific immunotherapy. Data on age, gender, symptoms, prick test before and after the immunotherapy administration, drugs, efficacy and side effects, were recorded using the SPS-S statistical program. Results: 90%had moderated symptoms and 10% had severe symptoms and asthma. 33% were sensitized to grass pollen. 60% needed antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids before the immunotherapy. In a lot of cases (80%) there were no side effects. The complete desensitization occurred in 53,3% and the reduction of symptoms in 73% of the cases. 54% of the patients didn’t need treatment after specific immunotherapy. Conclusions: The specific immunotherapy is the only curative therapy. Sublingual therapy is one of the most accepted because is well tolerated, it uses a higher allergen concentration, it reduces the symptoms and the needs of drugs and side effects are uncommon

Fallo cardíaco severo en el período postparto inmediato / Severe heart failure in the immediate postpartum

La aparición de fallo cardíaco agudo durante el embarazo o tras el parto es una circunstancia muy infrecuente, pero que en ocasiones requiere ingreso en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Presentamos los casos de dos mujeres que desarrollaron signos y síntomas de insuficiencia cardíaca en el período postparto inmediato y en los cuales la realización de una ecocardiografía sirvió para establecer dos diagnósticos completamente diferentes. En el primer caso se trata de una miocardiopatía periparto, enfermedad de causa no bien conocida y caracterizada por una disfunción sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo. Por el contrario, el segundo caso clínico corresponde a una miocardiopatía hipertrófica obstructiva, no diagnosticada previamente, y cuya base fisiopatológica es la disfunción diastólica. Realizamos una descripción de los dos casos, así como de los aspectos clínicos y terapéuticos de ambos procesos

Presentation of acute heart failure during the pregnancy or after childbirth is a very rare circumstance, however, it sometimes requires the admision of the patient in the Intensive Care Unit. We present the case of two women who developed signs and symptoms of heart failure in the immediate postpartum; ecocardiography established two completely different diagnoses. In the first case, it was a peripartum myocardiopathy, a disease of unknown etiology characterized by left ventricle systolic dysfunction. On the contrary, the second clinical case was an obstructive hypertrophic myocardiopathy not diagnosed previously and whose physiopathological basis lies in diastolic dysfunction. A description of both cases is carried out, as well as the discussion of the clinical and therapeutic implications of both diseases

Resultados de la atención a la parada cardiorrespiratoria en un hospital de referencia según el estilo Utstein / Outcome after cardiorespiratory arrest in a referral hospital reported in utstein style

Fundamento. Los resultados de la atención a la parada cardiorrespiratoria (PCR) dependen de factores asociados al tipo de paciente y al sistema de organización de la respuesta, por lo que es difícil efectuar comparaciones entre diferentes ámbitos y centros. Por ello se recomienda que los informes se realicen siguiendo un patrón uniforme, el estilo Utstein. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir, según este estilo, las características de los pacientes que presentan una PCR en un hospital de referencia y los resultados obtenidos. Método. Estudio observacional prospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes que han presentado una PCR en un hospital universitario durante un período de un año. Se recogen las variables relacionadas con el hospital, el paciente, el episodio de PCR y los resultados obtenidos. Como resultados se analizan la mortalidad y la situación funcional general y cerebral al alta hospitalaria, a los 6 meses y al año. Se realiza un estudio estadístico descriptivo e inferencial y se estima el número de pacientes que es necesario tratar (NNT) para salvar una vida. Resultados. Se incluyeron 89 episodios de PCR, de los que 41 se produjeron en la Unidad de Medicina Intensiva, 22 en las Urgencias y 26 en otras dependencias del hospital. La edad mediana fue de 68 años y un 58 por ciento fueron varones. El 64 por ciento de las PCR fue de origen cardiológico. El 35 por ciento se presentó como fibrilación ventricular, y transcurrió una mediana de 2 min hasta la desfibrilación. La supervivencia hospitalaria y al año fueron del 24 (NNT 4) y del 19 por ciento, respectivamente, con todos los pacientes en las categorías funcional cerebral y general óptimas (CPC/OPC de 1 o 2). Conclusiones. En nuestra serie hospitalaria hay una alta tasa de supervivencia de la PCR en relación con el origen preferentemente cardiológico, en ritmo de fibrilación ventricular y con tiempos de respuesta cortos, con los supervivientes en buena situación general y cerebral al año del seguimiento (AU)

Effect of a catecholamine-induced increase in cardiac output on extravascular lung water.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of dopamine- and dobutamine-induced increases in cardiac output on the extravascular lung water in an experimental model of pulmonary edema. DESIGN: Animal experimental study. SETTING: Animal experimental laboratory of a tertiary hospital. SUBJECTS: Mixed-race pigs (n = 20) weighing 28-32 kg. INTERVENTIONS: After the animals were anesthetized and tracheotomized, they were injected with 0.1 mL/kg of oleic acid, producing a pulmonary edema by increased permeability. The animals then were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 10) received no medication to alter cardiac output and remained on mechanical ventilation during the 240 mins of the experiment; group II (n = 10) received a continuous infusion of dopamine and dobutamine to produce a cardiac output increase of >or=30% the basal value and underwent the same mechanical ventilation regimen as group I. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic and respiratory variables were measured at 0 (baseline) and 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mins after the infusion of oleic acid. At 30 mins, the cardiac output of group II (5.40 +/- 0.94 L/min) was significantly (p < .005) higher than that of group I (3.65 +/- 1.02 L/min), and a similar significant increase was recorded at all measurement times until the end of the experiment. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was similar in both groups except that at 240 mins it was significantly higher in group I (normal cardiac output) than in group II (high cardiac output; 34.9 +/- 7.9 mm Hg vs. 27.2 +/- 3.8 mm Hg, p = .01). The extravascular lung water was calculated by gravimetric method after the death of the animal. The extravascular lung water of group I (13.8 +/- 3.6 mL/kg) did not significantly differ from that of group II (11.5 +/- 4.0 mL/kg). CONCLUSIONS: An increase in cardiac output experimentally produced by the infusion of dopamine and dobutamine does not modify the amount of extravascular lung water.

[Pre-hospital care in acute coronary syndromes. Experience of the ARIAM group]. / La asistencia prehospitalaria en los síndromes coronarios agudos. Experiencia del grupo ARIAM.

OBJECTIVE: The advance in the treatment of the acute coronary syndromes tries to configure an integral attendance, not only of accelerating the fibrinolytic therapy. The objective of the present work is to evaluate basic measures of the patients' out of hospital attendance with acute coronary syndromes. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Hospital center. PATIENTS: Diagnosed patients of myocardial infarction or unstable angina derived to intensive care units of 70 hospitals (ARIAM registry). The patients are classified depending on their previous coronary antecedents and to the system that you/they go first. The attention is evaluated by means of an specific score, with special attention in basic measures: administration of acetylsalicylic acid and nitroglycerin and realization of ECG. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 30746 patients, of those that 70.4% was myocardial infarction and 29.6% unstable angina, with 3:1 of relationship male/female, the half score of out of hospital attention reaches 1 point. 48.5% goes for its means, making it the rest for devices of urgent attention. It was administered nitroglycerin to 36.7% and acetylsalicylic acid to 13.1%. Among the patients with antecedents, these proportions remain. Among the devices the presence of antecedents seems neither to determine a different attitude. The temporal evolution has not suffered spectacular changes and the tendency to the observed rise, they are more marked for the less established measures. CONCLUSIONS: Inside the evaluation of the out of hospital attendance to the acute coronary syndromes exist numerous opportunities of improvement that it is necessary to develop to several fronts and where all the sanitary services involved will be implied.

Abdomen release in prone position does not improve oxygenation in an experimental model of acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of abdomen release in the prone position on oxygenation in an experimental model of acute lung injury. DESIGN: Experimental randomized controlled study. SETTING: Experimental laboratory of a tertiary university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Mixed-breed adolescent pigs weighing between 25-31 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Thirty minutes after pulmonary edema was produced with oleic acid, the animals were turned prone and randomized into two groups: group I or control (n = 9), lying directly on the operating table; and group II (n = 11) with abdomen release, with positioning rolls under the upper part of the chest wall and the pelvis to allow free movement of the abdomen. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and the extravascular lung water (EVLW), determined by double indicator dilution method (DI), were recorded at baseline (time 0) and at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min. The PaO2/FIO2 increased in both groups at 30 min after the pigs were placed in the prone position (time 60) and then decreased progressively until the end of the experimental period, with no statistical differences between the groups at any time (73.1 +/- 14.5 vs 79.5 +/- 14.9 at 150 min). Abdomen release was not associated with changes in the respiratory mechanics, EVLW or intra-abdominal pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Abdomen release in prone position does not improve oxygenation in an experimental model of acute lung injury.