Lung-protective Mechanical Ventilation for Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgeries

Patients were provided with a tidal volume of 7 ml/kg IBW and an intraoperative 10 cmH2O in PEEP. Simultaneously, the alveoli were recruited applying a stepwise increase in PEEP (from 4 to 10 cmH2O for 3 breaths, 10 to 15 cmH2O for 3 breaths, and 15 to 20 cmH2O for 10 breaths) with maximum PIP = 50 cmH2O \[24\]. The recruitment maneuvers were performed right after intubation, 30 minutes after CO2 insufflation, then every hour, and finally before extubation.