Effects of Mechanical Ventilation Guided by Transpulmonary Pressure on Gas Exchange During Robotic Surgery: a Pilot Study

In the researchers' words

Laparoscopy and robotic techniques are widespread procedures for pelvic gynecologic, urologic and abdominal surgery often performed in Trendelenburg position, with the application of pneumoperitoneum by inflating carbon dioxide. The rise in abdominal pressure following pneumoperitoneum and the head down body position have been shown to impair the respiratory function during the procedure, mainly inducing atelectasis formation in the dependent lung regions, worsening stress and strain of the alveolar structure. The application of a ventilator strategy providing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been shown to reduce the diaphragm cranial shift, increasing functional residual capacity and decreasing respiratory system elastance. Furthermore, the application of recruiting maneuver followed by the subsequent application of PEEP improved oxygenation. These results are in accordance with finding by Talmor et al, evaluating the effect of a mechanical ventilation guided by esophageal pressure in acute lung injury patients. However a comparison between an esophageal pressure piloted mechanical ventilation and a conventional low tidal ventilator strategy with adjunct of PEEP and recruitment maneuvers according to clinical judgment has never been investigated in patients undergoing robotic gynecologic, abdominal or urologic surgery. The investigators aim to compare the…