Avoidance of tracheal intubation using awake prone positioning in a case of severe respiratory failure from lung adenocarcinoma

This case report details the management of a patient with lung adenocarcinoma complicated by acute respiratory failure, who underwent innovative awake prone positioning ventilation. After daily APP treatment for 12 hours over 1 week, significant improvement in oxygenation was observed, and tracheal intubation was successfully avoided. Following 1 week of combined treatment with the targeted drug vemurafenib, the patient was discharged without complications. A follow-up CT scan 1 month later revealed substantial resolution of the pulmonary lesions. Early use of the APP may be a potential treatment option for patients with respiratory failure from lung adenocarcinoma that may avoid progression to tracheal intubation.