Background and goal of the study: Postoperative complications following major surgeries are associated with a significant increase in costs and mortality. There is increasing evidence that mechanical ventilation with a protective strategy using low tidal volume prevents postoperative pulmonary complications. Peripheral vascular surgeries include particularly surgeries for arterial revascularization of the lower limbs in patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease. These procedures are strongly associated with major cardiovascular morbidity postoperatively. In this specific group of patients, the presence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) may be associated with worsening of clinical outcomes with a consequent significant increase in perioperative morbidity.

Subjects and methods: In this study, the investigators aimed to compare the effects of controlled mechanical ventilation with the use of a protective strategy (low tidal volume associated with elevated PEEP) when compared to the conventional strategy (higher tidal volume associated with reduced PEEP levels) on the rate of PPC in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. This study was delineated as a prospective trial, compared to the control group (conventional ventilation strategy). Patients and researchers were blinded during data collection. The investigators included adult patients, ASA status II to IV, aged over 18 years, scheduled to undergo lower limb arterial bypass surgery. Patients were randomized to treatment with conventional mechanical ventilation (tidal volume between 9 to 10 ml.kg-1 of predicted body weight and PEEP between 3 and 5 cmH2O - Group I or control) or treatment with protective ventilation strategy (tidal volume of 6 to 7 ml.kg-1 of predicted body weight and PEEP of 6 to 8 cmH2O - Group II or treatment). The primary outcome was PPC and the secondary endpoint included hemodynamic and metabolic changes perioperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using the intention-to-treat method.

Inclusion Criteria:

• This study enrolled only patients displaying peripheral occlusive arterial disease and scheduled to undergo an elective peripheral artery bypass surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The illiterate or who do not understand Portuguese language, those who had a body-mass index (BMI) higher than 35 kg/m2, had severe pulmonary comorbidities or another disorder that might compromise a safe trial procedure and those who refused to participate of the study or who had already participated in other studies.