What does this research mean for the field?

Lateral positioning during pressure support ventilation in patients with blunt thoracic injury modestly increases regional ventilation of the dependent lung, but only in those with symmetrical ventilation distribution and normal compliance. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study investigates how lateral positioning during pressure support ventilation affects ventilation distribution in patients with blunt thoracic injuries.

February 26, 2026Open Access

Effect of lateral positioning on ventilation in patients with blunt thoracic injury during pressure support ventilation: the VICTORY study

Key Points

This study investigates how lateral positioning during pressure support ventilation affects ventilation distribution in patients with blunt thoracic injuries.
Positioned patients at 30 degrees on each side for 30 minutes during pressure support ventilation.
Used electrical impedance tomography to measure ventilation distribution in the lungs.
Categorized patients based on baseline ventilation: symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Assessed tidal volume and lung ultrasound score as secondary outcomes.
Regional ventilation in the right lung increased when the lung was dependent compared to non-dependent and supine positions.
Only patients with symmetrical baseline ventilation demonstrated significant changes during lateral positioning.
Lateral positioning did not impact global ventilation or respiratory mechanics after returning to supine position.

Abstract

Abstract Background In patients with blunt thoracic injury requiring mechanical ventilation lateral positioning is routinely performed. Whether it modifies ventilation distribution and aeration is unclear. Study design and methods Patients receiving pressure support ventilation (PSV) were positioned 30 degrees on each side for 30 min. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) was used to quantify the percentage of right and left ventilation. Secondary outcomes included right and left tidal volume and the modified lung ultrasound score. At baseline, patients were categorized according to ventilation distribution: symmetrical (right lung receiving 50–55% of total ventilation) or asymmetrical. Results Twenty-four patients were included (mean age 51 ± 20 years, 79% male) under median PSV 5 cmH 2 O 25–75% IQR: 5–8 and PEEP 8 5–8 cmH 2 O. Trauma mechanisms included motor vehicle collision (50%) and fall (29%); 54% had bilateral rib fractures and 8% a flail chest. The duration of ventilation and ICU stay were 9 5–19 and 13 8–21 days, respectively. Regional right-lung ventilation increased slightly when the lung was dependent 53% (44–58%), decreased when non-dependent 47% (44–53%), compared to supine 50% (45–54%) ( p = 0.022). These effects were observed in patients with symmetrical baseline ventilation ( n = 8, p = 0.011), but not in those with asymmetrical ventilation ( n = 16, p = 0.391), nor in patients with low respiratory system compliance (< 50 ml/cmH 2 O, n = 9, p = 0.539). In patients with symmetrical distribution, the right-lung and right-basal ultrasound score increased when dependent ( p < 0.05), whereas no changes were observed in the left lung. There were no differences in respiratory mechanics or global ventilation from the beginning to the end of the session once patients were returned to supine. Conclusion In blunt thoracic injury, lateral positioning during PSV is associated with a modest increase in regional ventilation of the dependent lung, but this effect is limited to patients with symmetrical ventilation distribution and normal compliance. In others, longer duration or higher degree of lateralization may be required.

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