 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Lloyd-Davies position" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Lloyd-Davies position is a medical term referring to a common position for surgical procedures involving the pelvis and lower abdomen. The majority of colorectal and pelvic surgery is conducted with the patient in the Lloyd-Davies position. It was popularised for these procedures by Oswald Lloyd-Davies working at St Marks Hospital London.
It is derived from the Trendelenburg position but with the legs abducted to allow access to the perineum. The basic angle is a 30-degree Trendelenburg with the hips flexed at 15 degrees; this can be adjusted with leg supports.
Advantages
- The position gives good exposure and may minimize pressure area damage in longer surgeries.
- It has fewer neuropathological side effects compared with other positions, notably lithotomy position where the hips are almost fully flexed.
Disadvantages
- Uncommonly it can precipitate compartment syndrome in muscles of calves after 5 or more hours of surgery.
See also
References
- "Lloyd-Davies, Oswald Vaughan (1905 - 1987)".
- Halliwill, John R.; Hewitt, Scott A.; Joyner, Michael J.; Warner, Mark A. (December 1998). "Effect of Various Lithotomy Positions on Lower-extremity Blood Pressure". Anesthesiology. 89 (6): 1373–1376. doi:10.1097/00000542-199812000-00014. PMID 9856711.