Passive Orthostatism Using a Tilt Table in Patients with Impaired Oxygenation after Cardiovascular Surgery

: Passive orthostatism using a tilt table was introduced in patients with impaired oxygenation [Pao2/Fio(2 P/F) ratio < 300] after cardiovascular surgery. Our passive orthostatism protocol was as follows. Patient was transferred to a tilt table under endotracheal intubation with pulmonary artery catheter monitoring, and rested for 10 minutes in a supine position, followed by 45-degree tilt for 5 minutes, and then passive orthostatism at 60-degree for 25 minutes. P/F ratio was significantly improved during passive orthostatism. Improvement in P/F ratio was confirmed even 1 hour after completion of the protocol. No obvious adverse events were found throughout the protocol. On average, 15 hours (2~72 hours, median 4 hours) after the introduction of passive orthostatism, weaning from respirator was achieved.