What is the position of Trendelenburg in medicine?

Back in the last century, when medicine was only gaining momentum, doctors began to develop options for various patient positions on the operating table. This was necessary to improve the visibility of internal organs during surgical interventions. The German surgeon and gynecologist came up with a pose (which was named after him) for operations on the pelvic organs. In the article we consider what it is - the position of Trendelenburg.

Previously, during gynecological operations, access to the internal genital organs in the pelvis was rather difficult. From above they give in to pressure of intestines and omentum. The uterus has low mobility. This did not allow surgeons to fully carry out the intervention. Therefore, for a more comfortable access, a new patient placement on the operating table was invented.

What is this - the position of Trendelenburg? This is a special posture of the patient lying on his back, in which the operating table tilts 45 degrees so that the patient's pelvis is above the head. This position allows you to maximize the release of the internal genital organs from the pressure of the omentum and intestines, as they extend to the upper abdominal cavity. So that patients do not slide down, they are laid with legs bent at the knees, which are fixed in two places: near the ankle joints and above the calyx. Doctors also use padded shoulder pads.

When is this provision used?

Doctors put the patient in this position in strictly defined cases.

The list of them is as follows:

1. Surgery on the rectum during gynecological and urological operations.
2. With fluoroscopy of the esophagus and stomach.
3. A sharp decrease in blood pressure.

X-ray in the Trendelenburg position is used to examine the esophagus and stomach. The contrast agent that is administered to the patient through the mouth allows more accurate recognition of diaphragmatic hernia, changes in the lining of the stomach and ulcerative defects.

Contraindications

There are pathologies of the human body in which the application of the Trendelenburg position is not recommended.

This list includes the following diseases:

1. Ascites.
2. Purulent and bloody discharge.
3. Cysts in the ovaries.
4. Respiratory failure.
5. Sclerosis of the vessels of the brain.
6. Heart failure.

Thanks to the German surgeon Toreldenburg, it became more convenient for doctors to carry out operations on the pelvic organs.