Cardiac output decreases and systemic vascular resistance increases in newborns placed in the left-lateral position

The objective of the study was to study the effect of short-term left-lateral position on cardiovascular parameters in hemodynamically stable newborns.Cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and heart rate (HR) were measured by electric velocimetry in hemodynamically stable newborns without respiratory support in the supine, left-lateral and back-to-supine positions, each kept for 10 min.Thirty-two newborns were enrolled, birth weight 2134 (1818 to 2460) g, gestational age 34.5±2.4 weeks. CO and SV decreased significantly from supine to left-lateral position (CO supine: 193.4 (168.0 to 229.6) ml kgIn stable infants, CO and SV decrease and SVRI increases, in left-lateral position.