A recent study compared patients receiving intraoperative mechanical ventilation using either a tidal volume of 9 mL/kg ideal body weight and zero positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (standard ventilation) or a tidal volume of 7 mL/kg ideal body weight, 10 cm H2O PEEP, and recruitment maneuvers (protective ventilation). According to this study, which of the following statements is most likely true?
Interest has been growing in the use of lower tidal volumes for intraoperative mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation can induce lung injury through lung overdistension, increased transpulmonary pressure, and repetitive opening and closing of dependent lung tissue. Lower tidal volumes and higher levels of PEEP have been associated with decreased production of systemic and pulmonary inflammatory markers. However, previous studies were usually conducted in intensive care units or using surrogate measures to assess lung injury. A recent study assessed postoperative clinical outcomes in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery lasting...
