What Is the Supine Position?
One thing most people don’t consider when they’re planning to have surgery is exactly how they’ll be positioned on the surgical table when the operation takes place. Many assume that they’ll be lying flat on their backs, and this is called the supine position. There are a plethora of other positions that might be used depending on type of surgery and access needed while the surgery is ongoing.
As stated, the supine position is one in which people lie on their backs, in almost a completely flat position. They might have a pillow under the head or under some type of the body to promote greater comfort. In many positions, people’s bodies are secured to the table with some form of strap, and strap placement might depend on where the actual surgery will take place. A strap around the waist might be appropriate for chest surgeries, such as many types of heart or neck surgeries. The strap might be placed higher on the body if access is needed to the abdominal cavity, pelvis or legs.
When in the supine position, it is sometimes necessary to move the table, not the patient. A surgical table may be tilted. When people are lying supine with the table tilted so the head is lowered, this is called the Trendelenburg position. The Fowler position has the patient lie supine with the head elevated, not necessarily by a full tilt of the table. One concern with supine positions is the potential to cause breathing issues with certain patients. The Fowler might address this.
Another variation on the supine position occurs when the knees are bent, with the feet still placed on the table. This is referred to as the dorsal recumbent position and it is used for many different surgeries or exams. Women might labor in some form of the dorsal recumbent position or they could undergo pelvic exams. If the head is elevated the dorsal recumbent might be named the jackknife.
People do not always lie on their backs, and access to the body might be needed by fully switching or changing a supine position halfway. People could lie in lateral decubitus positions and be on their right or left sides. Sometimes a surgery needs to be performed prone, which means a person lies on the stomach, instead. If access to things like the spine is needed, a prone position may be preferable.
It may be possible to gain access to the area of the body requiring surgery from a variety of positions. Surgeons may choose based on patient health, other medical conditions, and personal preference.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
