Restoration of Pulmonary Compliance After Laparoscopic Gynaecologic Surgery Using a Recruitment Maneuver

In recent years, laparoscopic surgery is a common minimal invasive technique which ensures the avoidance of prolong hospital stay, long duration surgery, postoperative pain, operation scars. However, laparoscopic surgery has a negative impact on respiratory mechanics because of the pneumoperitoneum, the changes in position and the appliance of positive pressure ventilation. The increase in abdominal pressure as a result of carbon dioxide insufflation and the typical head-down body position have been shown to impair respiratory function. Application of a pneumoperitoneum-induced elevation of intraabdominal pressure elevates the diaphragm and results in a compression of the dependent ventral lung regions. As a consequence, the amount of atelectasis is increased. The insufflation of CO2 reduced respiratory system compliance, and increased peak inspiratory and mean airway pressures. Additionally, changes to the lithotomy and Trendelenburg position during gynaecologic surgery reduce lung compliance by altering the location of intestinal contents and diaphragm. Especially the Trendelenburg position potentiates the effects of abdominal pressure via gravity and relaxation of the diaphragm; thereby, increasing the airway pressure and reducing the functional residual capacity, which results in further changes in the respiratory system. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of an alveolar recruitment maneuver during gynaecologic laparoscopic surgery by determining the changes in lung compliance.

Design: Prospective study. Setting: Operating room of a hospital. Patients: 31 ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled to undergo gynaecologic laparoscopic surgery in the dorsal lithotomy position.

Interventions: The surgery would be performed under general anaesthesia according to the common practice using protective lung ventilation ( Vt= 6 ml /Kg ideal body weight , RR to maintain end-expiratory CO2 35-45 cmH2O and PEEP= 6- 8 cm H20). An incremental and decremental positive end-expiratory pressure alveolar recruitment maneuver would be performed after release of pneumoperitoneum.

Measurements: Respiratory mechanics including dynamic compliance were measured continuously. Respiratory measures were recorded together with arterial blood gases after induction (T1), with the patient placed in the dorsal lithotomy position (T2), 10 and 90 minutes after CO2 insufflation (T3 and T4), immediately after desufflation in the lithotomy and supine positions (T5 and T6), and 10 minutes after a pulmonary recruitment maneuver at the conclusion of surgery (T7).

Inclusion criteria: