Trendelenburg position
The Trendelenburg position is a patient positioning technique commonly used in medical and surgical procedures. Named after German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg, who developed the position for use in gallbladder surgery and pelvic operations, it involves the patient being laid back on an incline with their feet elevated higher than their head.
Usage[edit | edit source]
- The Trendelenburg position can be utilized in several situations:
- Surgery: It's often used in abdominal and gynecological surgeries to improve access to the pelvic organs.
- Cardiovascular Support: The position may be used to treat hypotension and shock by enhancing venous return to the heart.
- Airway Management: It can help prevent aspiration during anesthesia induction.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
To position a patient in Trendelenburg, the head of the patient's bed or operating table is lowered below the level of the rest of the body, creating an angle that varies based on the medical need. This tilt can be as significant as 45 degrees, but more often it is in the 15 to 30 degree range.
Potential Risks[edit | edit source]
While the Trendelenburg position can be beneficial, it's not without risks. These include increased risk of aspiration, increased intracranial pressure, and respiratory difficulties due to increased pressure on the diaphragm from abdominal contents.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- "Patient Positioning: Best Practices". American Nurse Today.
- "Positioning Patients for Surgery". Operating Room Nurse.
- "Trendelenburg Position". StatPearls.
External Links[edit | edit source]
Trendelenburg Position - MedlinePlus Trendelenburg Position - Encyclopedia of Surgery
| Trendelenburg position Resources | |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
