“Protective” Ventilation During Surgery Lowers Risk for Postoperative Complications

Low tidal volume ventilation (6 mL/kg predicted body weight; plateau pressure, <30 cm H₂O) has become the standard of care for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Because of concern about ventilator-induced lung injury, lower tidal volumes often are used in the intensive care unit (ICU) for patients without ARDS. This “protective” ventilation is done less commonly in the operating room (OR), where ventilator strategies vary widely.

In this study, investigators examined outcomes in 69,265 patients who underwent general anesthesia for surgical procedures and were extubated immediately postoperatively at three Massachusetts hospitals. Cardiothoracic surgical cases were excluded. Protective ventilation was defined as positi…