Protective ventilation during anaesthesia reduces major postoperative complications after lung cancer surgery: A double-blind randomised controlled trial

{BACKGROUNDThoracic surgery for lung resection is associated with a high incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. Controlled ventilation with a large tidal volume has been documented to be a risk factor for postoperative respiratory complications after major abdominal surgery, whereas the use of low tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has a protective effect.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of ventilation with low tidal volume and PEEP on major complications after thoracic surgery.DESIGNA double-blind, randomised controlled study.SETTINGA multicentre trial from December 2008 to October 2011.PATIENTSA total of 346 patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESThe primary outcome was the occurrence of major postoperative complications (pneumonia, acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, shock, myocardial infarction or death) within 30 days after surgery.INTERVENTIONSPatients were randomly assigned to receive either lung-protective ventilation (LPV group) [tidal volume 5mlkg(-1) ideal body weight+PEEP between 5 and 8cmH(2)O] or nonprotective ventilation (control group) (tidal volume 10mlkg(-1) ideal body weight without PEEP) during anaesthesia.RESULTSThe trial was stopped prematurely because of an insufficient inclusion rate. Major postoperative complications occurred in 23/172 patients in the LPV group (13.4%) vs. 38/171 (22.2%) in the control group (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval, 0.31 to 0.95