1. Trendelenburg Position

2.  Supine with the feet higher than head by
15° - 30°.

3. History
 Friedrich Trendelenburg created the
position .
 Walter Cannon - used for shock.
 A decade later, Cannon reversed his
opinion but that did not deter its
widespread use.

4. uses
 Insertion or removal of central venous
catheters .
 Certain spinal anaesthetic techniques .
 Pelvic and gynaecologic surgery.
 Abdominal hernia reduction.
 Delivery - cord prolapse .

5. Not indicated or may have harmful
effects in
 Resuscitation in hypotension/shock .
 Difficult mechanical .
 Decreased vital capacity.
 Increased intracranial
pressure/ intraocular pressure .
 Cerebral oedema.
 Lower limbs ischaemia.

6. Complications ( esp. in
hypotension)
 Anxiety .
 Hypoventilation and atelectasis .
 Altered V/Q ratios .
 Increased intracranial pressure .
 Decreased cardiac output and
hypotension.
 Risk of aspiration .

7.  Current data to support the use of the
Trendelenburg position during shock are
limited and do not reveal any beneficial or
sustained changes in systolic blood
pressure or cardiac output.

8. Use/not use
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be
able to entertain a thought without
accepting it”.
Aristotle