2. The goal of proper positioning is to provide the best possible
access and visualization of the surgical site while causing the least
possible compromise in physiological function and stress to
joints, skin and other body parts
Positioning should also provide
access to the patient for the
administration of IV fluids and
anesthetic agents and provide
patient safety

3. This is the usual position for
administering general
anesthesia and for doing most
surgery of the abdomen such
as laparotomy, herniorrhaphy,
and appendectomy. With slight
modifications, it is also used for
other types of surgery, such as
surgery on the arms or legs.
Supine Position
Trendelenburg
Position
Reverse
Trendelenburg
Position
Fowler’s Position
Sitting Position
Laparotomy
Position

4. Supine Position
Trendelenburg
Position
Reverse
Trendelenburg
Position
Fowler’s Position
Sitting Position
Lithotomy
Position

5. Supine Position
Trendelenburg
Position
May be used for
Reverse surgery on the neck,
Trendelenburg such as
Position thyroidectomy, and
for certain abdominal
Fowlers surgery, such as liver
Position or gallbladder
operations
Sitting Position
Lithotomy
Position

6. Applied at
Supine Position operations on a
head and neck, at
laparoscopic
Trendelenburg
operations, fundopl
Position ications and
Reverse cardiomyotomy
Trendelenburg
Position
Fowler’s Position
Sitting Position
Lithotomy
Position

7. Included in surgery for which
Supine Position the patient sits upright are
various operations on the nose
Trendelenburg and throat, as well as some
Position plastic surgical procedures.
Reverse
Trendelenburg
Position
Fowler’s Position
Sitting Position
Lithotomy
Position

8. Supine Position
Trendelenburg
Position
Reverse
Trendelenburg
Position
Fowler’s Position
Used for surgery in the
Sitting Position perineal area, such as
drainage of rectal
abscesses and
Lithotomy Position perineal
prostatectomies, and
for gynecological
surgery such as
vaginal hysterectomy

9. Kraske
Prone Lateral Kidney
(Jackknife) Sims’ Position
Position Position Position
Position
Used for surgical procedures-major or minor-that
are performed on the back, shoulders, neck, or
back of the head. Placement of the patient in
the prone position for minor surgery, using local
anesthesia, differs in some respects with
placement for general anesthesia.

10. Kraske
Prone Lateral Kidney
(Jackknife) Sims’ Position
Position Position Position
Position
allowing the surgeon to have optimal access to the kidneys.
Used for surgery on the coccyx,
buttocks, or rectum, particularly
when the patient has had spinal
anesthesia and there is no
objection to his being placed
either face downward or head
low.

11. Kraske
Prone Lateral Kidney
(Jackknife) Sims’ Position
Position Position Position
Position

12. Kraske
Prone Lateral Kidney
(Jackknife) Sims’ Position
Position Position Position
Position
Used for surgery on
the kidney or the
proximal third of the
ureter.

13. Kraske
Lateral Kidney Sims’
Prone Position (Jackknife)
Position Position Position
Position
1/16/2012