Prone versus Supine Position Ventilation in Adult Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

/e purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of prone versus supine position ventilation for adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. /e electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched from their inception up to September 2020. /e relative risks (RRs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to calculate pooled outcomes using the randomeffects models. Twelve randomized controlled trials that had recruited a total of 2264 adults with ARDS were selected for the final meta-analysis. /e risk of mortality in patients who received prone position ventilation was 13% lower than for those who received supine ventilation, but this effect was not statistically significant (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.75–1.00; P � 0.055). /ere were no significant differences between prone and supine position ventilation on the duration of mechanical ventilation (WMD: −0.22; P � 0.883) or ICU stays (WMD: –0.39; P � 0.738). /e pooled RRs indicate that patients who received prone position ventilation had increased incidence of pressure scores (RR: 1.23; P � 0.003), displacement of a thoracotomy tube (RR: 3.14; P � 0.047), and endotracheal tube obstruction (RR: 2.45; P � 0.001). /e results indicated that prone positioning during ventilation might have a beneficial effect on mortality, though incidence of several adverse events was significantly increased for these patients.