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The Myth of the Trendelenburg Position

In World War I, Walter Cannon, an American physiologist, popularized the use of the Trendelenburg position as a treatment for shock. The Trendelenburg position involves the patient being placed with their head down and feet elevated. This position was promoted as a way to increase venous return to the heart, increase cardiac output and improve vital organ perfusion. A decade later, Cannon reversed his opinion regarding the use of the Trendelenburg position, but this didn’t deter its widespread use. The Trendelenburg position is still a pervasive treatment for shock despite numerous studies failing to show effectiveness.

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