Table 3

Acute lung injury score and apoptotic index in the supine and prone position

Supine position

Prone position

P value

95% confidence interval

Acute lung injury score

4.63 ± 0.58

2.17 ± 0.19

<0.0001

-3.9 to -1.82

Apoptotic index

Lung dorsal

112 ± 22

45.6 ± 28

0.003

-103.6 to -29.78

Lung ventral

80 ± 28

35 ± 22

0.02

-82.6 to -8.1

P value

0.04

0.046

95% confidence interval

2.37 to 61.09

0.29 to 20.5

Liver

56 ± 21

23 ± 10

0.05

-66.78 to -7.8.1

Kidney

31 ± 14

17 ± 10

NS

Small intestine

22 ± 11

16 ± 11

NS

Diaphragm

10 ± 0.5

0.5 ± 0.4

0.001

-10.6 to -9.01

Acute lung injury score corresponds to the sum of the extent (score 0, 1, 2 and 3 for an extent of 0%, <25%, 25–50% and >50%) and the severity of lung injury (score 0 for no changes, score 1, 2 and 3 more severe changes). The apoptotic index was expressed as the number of apoptotic cells/bodies per 10 high-power fields.

Nakos et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R38   doi:10.1186/cc4840