Which statement correctly describes Trendelenburg position?

Which statement correctly describes Trendelenburg position?

• A. Head of bed is lower than the feet.
• B. Head of bed is higher than the feet.
• C. The patient lies on the side.
• D. The patient is in a prone position.

Answer: (A)

Trendelenburg position is a head-down tilt: the patient lies on their back while the bed is tilted so the feet are higher than the head. This uses gravity to move blood toward the upper body and brain, which can help with venous return in some urgent situations. The statement that the head of the bed is lower than the feet describes this setup precisely. Lying on the side describes a lateral position, while lying face down is prone. A head-higher-than-feet arrangement would be reverse Trendelenburg (head-up tilt), not Trendelenburg.

Trendelenburg position is a head-down tilt: the patient lies on their back while the bed is tilted so the feet are higher than the head. This uses gravity to move blood toward the upper body and brain, which can help with venous return in some urgent situations. The statement that the head of the bed is lower than the feet describes this setup precisely. Lying on the side describes a lateral position, while lying face down is prone. A head-higher-than-feet arrangement would be reverse Trendelenburg (head-up tilt), not Trendelenburg.