The Open Lung Approach During One Lung Ventilation in Thoracic Surgery

"the ventilator was switched to pressure-control ventilation with a driving pressure of 20 cmH2O. After a 3 min equilibration, PEEP was applied in steps of 5,10,15 and 20 cmH2O every five respiratory breaths; subsequently, after setting a driving pressure of 15 cmH2O, PEEP was stepwise reduced, starting from 15 cmH2O, by 2 cmH2O every 2 minutes. The recruiting pressure of 20/20 was applied for six breaths. During the decremental PEEP trial, CRS was measured at every step. The PEEP level corresponding to highest CRS during the decremental trial was identified as the best PEEP. Subsequently, the lungs were recruited again and the best PEEP was applied."