As part of the management of COVID-19 related severe ARDS, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends prone positioned mechanical ventilation. At this time, it is unclear whether there is a role for prone positioning (PP) of non-mechanically ventilated patients.
The objective of this trial is to determine whether PP improves outcomes for non-intubated hospitalized patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19, who are not candidates for mechanical ventilation in the ICU. The investigators hypothesize that PP will reduce in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice, compared with usual care for non-intubated patients with do-not-intubate goals of care with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to probable COVID-19.
Patients randomized to the intervention arm will continue with prone positioning until study inclusion criteria are no longer met, discharge from hospital, day 60 in hospital, or until death or discharge to hospice. Daily assessments will occur until day 60 or until the patient is discharged from hospital or is deceased. The investigators anticipate recruitment to be completed within 12 months of starting the trial.
