proning

[ proh-ning ]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. the act or practice of laying a patient in the prone position, or face downward, in order to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and make breathing easier. Compare prone pressure method ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of proning¹

First recorded in 1975–80; prone ¹( def ) (in the sense “lying face downward”) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Before the pandemic, Rucker said, a handful of ICU staffers would often move patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome on their stomachs to help them breathe, a labor-intensive practice called proning.

From Seattle Times

His treatment included ventilation, tracheostomy, kidney dialysis and proning - lying on your front to help with breathing.

From BBC

He spent much of his time on his stomach, called proning, which allows for more expansion of the lungs and better oxygenation.

From Seattle Times

One important way to help patients in respiratory distress involves putting someone on their belly, known as proning.

From Seattle Times

And practitioners now know that proning — placing patients face down — can keep airways open longer, which has decreased the need for ventilators, said Mercedes Carnethon, vice chair of the department of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

From Seattle Times