Many papers have been published investigating the effects of intraoperative mechanical ventilation on the incidence of intra- and postoperative respiratory complications. The potential advantages of protective pressure over volume-controlled ventilation mode during laparoscopic surgery have yet to be proven. This study included 60 patients aged between 18 and 70 with ASA score 1-3, body mass index (BMI) ≤35 kg/m2, and without prior history of chronic respiratory diseases, who were scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Patients were assigned randomly to protective pressure or volume-controlled mechanical ventilation mode. The initial results showed no significant differences in respiratory and hemodynamic parameters between the groups. Comparison of patients with BMI ≥25 showed significantly lower peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak) at 15 (18.52 vs. 21.83 cm H2O, p=0.022), 30 (18.73 vs. 21.83 cm H2O, p=0.009) and 45 (18.94 vs. 22.667 cm H2O, p=0.010) minutes after tracheal intubation in the pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) group. Other measured parameters were of similar characteristics. It is concluded that PCV and volume-controlled ventilation were equally effective in maintaining adequate ventilation, oxygenation and hemodynamic stability in the groups of patients observed. However, comparison of obese patients revealed some advantages of PCV which, given the present pace of change, should be additionally investigated.
Keywords: Anesthesia, general; Case reports; Intubation, intratracheal; Laparoscopy; Obesity; Respiration; Respiration, artificial.