Trendelenburg's Slide Prevention Study

A gel pad (mattress) (approximately 3cm thick) is placed under the patient on top of the usual operating room mattress, directly in contact with patient's skin from buttocks to shoulders with the patient in dorsal lithotomy position under general anesthesia. Time in Trendelenburg's position and time operating are both recorded. The position of two bony landmarks (left anterior superior iliac spine and left acromioclavicular joint) are marked before Trendelenburg's position (30 to 45 degrees below horizontal) and immediately after returning the patient to horizontal position.

An egg-crate foam mattress (approximately 5cm thick) is placed under the patient on top of the usual operating room mattress, directly in contact with patient's skin from buttocks to shoulders with the patient in dorsal lithotomy position under general anesthesia. Time in Trendelenburg's position and time operating are both recorded. The position of two bony landmarks (left anterior superior iliac spine and left acromioclavicular joint) are marked before Trendelenburg's position (30 to 45 degrees below horizontal) and immediately after returning the patient to horizontal position.