End-expiratory Pressure During Laparoscopic Surgery in the Trendelenburg Position by Electrical Impedance Tomography

Plain-language summary

Pneumoperitoneum (PNP) and the position of the patient required for laparoscopic surgery lead to pathophysiological changes that complicate anesthesia. PNP is characterized by an increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), the cranial displacement of the diaphragm that can lead to the formation of intraoperative atelectasis and decrease end-expiratory lung volume (EELV). At the same time, PNP can reduce respiratory system compliance by 30-50% in healthy patients. During elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, atelectasis forms in almost 90% of patients and can become a focus of postoperative pneumonia. The negative effect of PNP is more prominent in Trendelenburg position. And one of the methods to avoid the effects of PNP and Trendelenburg position on lung tissue is to apply positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). PEEP is acknowledged as a component of lung protective ventilation (LPV) along with low tidal volume (TV) 6-8 ml/kg. On the other hand, excessive PEEP can lead to the overdistension of lung tissue and cause volutrauma and hemodynamic instability. It is necessary to use sufficient PEEP to minimize atelectasis, improve respiratory biomechanics and maintain oxygenation. Electrical impedance tomography shows changes in ventilation and perfusion during mechanical ventilation with the different PEEP levels. The study aimed to select optimum PEEP level based on optimum ventilation-to-perfusion match based on electrical impedance tomography measurements.

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