Flow Controlled Ventilation in Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

The optimization of ventilation is especially important during general anaesthesia, when active, physiologic respiration suspends and is replaced by non-physiologic mechanical positive pressure ventilation. Aiming at preserving compliance of lung tissue to guarantee an effective gas exchange is to avoid an excessive pressure application, especially in extreme positioning of the patient (Trendelenburg positioning) and/or pneumoperitoneum resulting in additional non-physiologic intrathoracic pressure. Perioperative lung protection strategies have steadily improved in recent years to reduce complications from mechanical ventilation, but postoperative pulmonary complications remain a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality.