Lying Patients Face-Down Raises Brain Pressure Only Slightly, Major Review

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Neurocritical Care examines what happens to intracranial pressure when patients with severe brain injuries are placed in the prone position. The technique, long used to improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome, is typically avoided in conditions like traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic stroke due to fears of dangerous pressure increases. Researchers led by Annika Meyer of University Hospital Cologne searched multiple databases in January and February 2026 and included ten studies covering 177 patients from Europe and China. Meta-analysis of eight studies found a statistically significant but modest rise in intracranial pressure of 5.06 mmHg, with values remaining below common hypertension thresholds around 20 to 22 mmHg.