Simple Face-Down position could save lives in breathing failure

NCT ID NCT06931938

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

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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.

ACUTE HYPOXEMIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE

Contacts and locations

Locations

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
RECRUITING

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

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