Previous research has demonstrated that prone positioning (laying face down) successfully reduces the risk of death in patients with moderate to severe hypoxemia, as well as aiding in oxygenation and protecting lung tissue during mechanical ventilation. 

Participants were 170 patients (110 men and 60 women) from 14 French intensive care units (ICUs), with 94% suffering from COVID-19-related ARDS. The research was conducted from March 3, 2021, to December 7, 2021. 

The main result was a successful 60-day weaning off of ECMO. 

The authors discovered no statistical difference in ECMO weaning success, with 44% of prone patients (38 of 86) successfully weaned versus 44% of supine patients (37 of 84), for a risk difference of 0.1% (95% CI, -14.9% to 15.2%). 

By day 90, there was no significant difference in ECMO duration, 28 days in the prone group and 32 days in the supine group (difference, 4.9 days; 95% CI, 11.2 to 1.5). 

However, whether the current trial findings apply to patients with severe non-COVID-19-related ARDS is still unclear.