ARDS with severe hypoxia--aeromedical transportation during prone ventilation.

Severe hypoxia, despite maximal conventional respiratory support, is one of the few remaining limitations to aeromedical transportation. A case of a 35-year-old female, who was referred 36 hours following major trauma for transfer by air to a tertiary center, is presented. At the time of referral the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 48. Usual manoeuvres to improve oxygenation had only minimal impact. The patient was turned and subsequently transported prone with resultant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio to 260. There were no patient- or transport-related adverse events. The implication of prone positioning during aeromedical transportation is discussed.