What position is recommended to relieve aortocaval compression during advanced cardiac life support in pregnancy?

In advanced cardiac life support for pregnant patients, the left lateral decubitus position is recommended to relieve aortocaval compression. During pregnancy, particularly in the later trimesters, the enlarging uterus can compress the inferior vena cava and the aorta when the patient is in a supine position. This compression can reduce venous return to the heart, decrease cardiac output, and potentially lead to fetal hypoxia.

Positioning the patient in the left lateral decubitus position alleviates this compressive effect by shifting the uterus off the major blood vessels, thereby restoring blood flow and improving maternal hemodynamics. This is critical during resuscitation efforts, as maintaining adequate perfusion to both the mother and the fetus is paramount.

Other positions, such as the right lateral decubitus or the supine position, do not effectively alleviate the compression of the aorta and inferior vena cava by the uterus to the same extent as the left lateral position. The prone position, while beneficial in some scenarios, is not practical or safe for a pregnant patient and does not address the issue of aortocaval compression effectively. Therefore, the left lateral decubitus position is established as the safest and most effective to minimize risks associated with aort