Low-Intensity Mechanical Ventilation in the Operating Room: a Pilot Study

Low-Intensity Mechanical Ventilation in the Operating Room: a Pilot Study

The aim of the study is to assess whether a bundle of protective low-intensity mechanical ventilation interventions reduces perioperative atelectasis and postoperative pulmonary complications, compared with standard care in a robot-assisted surgical setting. The feasibility of this ventilation bundle will also be assessed.

The investigators hypothesize that protective low-intensity mechanical ventilation during robot-assisted surgery reduces perioperative atelectasis and postoperative pulmonary complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients undergoing non-emergent intra-abdominal or pelvic robot-assisted surgery with an expected duration of at least 2 hours, under general anesthesia with planned extubation at the end of the procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known pregnancy
• Pre-existing intubation or tracheostomy
• Contraindications for esophageal manometry: severe midface trauma or recent nasal surgery, esophageal varices, recent gastric or esophageal surgery
• Contraindications for electrical impedance tomography (EIT): inability to place EIT belt, presence of an active electronic implantable device (e.g., pacemaker, ICD)