Emmanuel Futier, Jean-Michel Constantin, Catherine Paugam-Burtz, Julien Pascal, Mathilde Eurin, Arthur Neuschwander, Emmanuel Marret, Marc Beaussier, Christophe Gutton, Jean-Yves Lefrant, Bernard Allaouchiche, Daniel Verzilli, Marc Leone, Audrey De Jong, Jean-Etienne Bazin, Bruno Pereira, Samir Jaber
BACKGROUND: Lung-protective ventilation with the use of low tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure is considered best practice in the care of many critically ill patients. However, its role in anesthetized patients undergoing major surgery is not known. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial, we randomly assigned 400 adults at intermediate to high risk of pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery to either nonprotective mechanical ventilation or a strategy of lung-protective ventilation...
August 1, 2013: New England Journal of Medicine