Simple Face-Down position could save lives in breathing failure

NCT ID NCT06931938

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether awake patients with acute breathing failure who lie face down (prone positioning) for at least 10 hours a day for 3 days are less likely to need a breathing tube or die within 28 days, compared to standard care. The trial will include 342 intensive care unit patients with pneumonia-related breathing failure in Germany. The goal is to see if this simple, low-cost technique can improve outcomes.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Awake prone positioning (lying face down while awake)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to help patients with respiratory failure avoid needing a breathing tube and reduce the risk of death.

What could go wrong

This is a relatively early study (Phase NA) and previous evidence is mostly from COVID-19 patients. It may not work for other causes of respiratory failure, and lying face down can be uncomfortable or difficult for some patients.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ACUTE HYPOXEMIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute respiratory failure pneumonia respiratory failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

    RECRUITING

    Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, 20246, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••