Comparison of Hemodynamic Effects of Two Modalities of Alveolar Recruitment Maneuvers in Major Abdominal Surgery Patients

"When patient is under general anesthesia, an arterial catheter is placed for cardiac output and stroke volume (SV) monitoring. To avoid pre-load dependency bias, the blood volume will be optimized. A 250mL fluid-challenge of a balanced crystalloid solution is administered under cover of the SV monitoring. If SV variation is greater than 10%, a new fluid-challenge is performed to obtain a reference SV, corresponding to the patient's optimal blood volume.The patient is then pre-load independent.~Then, patients will be randomized into two groups: a first group will receive a CPAP ARM: 40 cmH2O for 50 seconds, followed by a 10-minute break corresponding to a period of return to basal state; then an extended sigh ARM (e-sigh) also lasting 50seconds (driving pressure: 10cmH2O and successive PEEP levels at 10,15,20,25 and 30cmH2O, a respiratory rate set at 30/min in controlled pressure - 5cycles at each PEEP level); a second group will receive the same two ARM modalities in reverse order."