In lungs: good side down

If a patient has significant right-sided lung disease, his or her preferred recumbent position would be which of the following? Why?

• a.Right lateral decubitus position
• b.Left lateral decubitus position
• c.Prone position
• d.Supine position
• e.No preferred position

 The answer is ( b ).
The rule for the comfortable recumbent position in lung disease is “good side down.” This patient with right-sided lung disease will be lying in the left lateral decubitus position to maximize gas exchange in the good lung.

Above is a chest x-ray of a person with Pneumonia. The white arrows on the x-ray are pointing to inflammation in the lung due to germs and mucus.