Intraoperative ventilatory strategies to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications: a meta-analysis

Purpose of review It is uncertain whether patients undergoing short-lasting mechanical ventilation for surgery benefit from lung-protective intraoperative ventilatory settings including the use of lower tidal volumes, higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and/or recruitment maneuvers. We meta-analyzed trials testing the effect of lung-protective intraoperative ventilatory settings on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. Recent findings Eight articles (1669 patients) were included. Meta-analysis showed a decrease in lung injury development [risk ratio (RR) 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.70; I-2 0%; number needed to treat (NNT) 37], pulmonary infection (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.43-0.97; I-2 0%; NNT 27) and atelectasis (RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.47-0.96; I-2 48%; NNT 31) in patients receiving intraoperative mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes. Meta-analysis also showed a decrease in lung injury development (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.14-0.60; I-2 0%; NNT 29), pulmonary infection (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.40-0.96; I-2 15%; NNT 33) and atelectasis (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.41-0.91; I-2 0%; NNT 29) in patients ventilated with higher levels of PEEP, with or without recruitment maneuvers. Summary Lung-protective intraoperative ventilatory settings have the potential to protect against postoperative pulmonary complications.