Body habitus, pneumoperitoneum, and Trendelenburg positioning may each independently impair lung mechanics during robotic laparoscopic surgery. This study hypothesized that increasing body mass index is associated with more mechanical strain and alveolar collapse, and these impairments are exacerbated by pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg positioning.

Methods

This cross-sectional study measured respiratory flow, airway pressures, and esophageal pressures in 91 subjects with body mass index ranging from 18.3 to 60.6 kg/m2. Pulmonary mechanics were quantified at four stages: (1) supine and level after intubation, (2) with pneumoperitoneum, (3) in Trendelenburg docked with the surgical robot, and (4) level without pneumoperitoneum. Subjects were stratified into five body mass index categories (less than 25, 25 to 29.9, 30 to 34.9, 35 to 39.9, and 40 or higher), and respiratory mechanics were compared over surgical stages using generalized estimating equations. The optimal positive end-expiratory pressure settings needed to achieve positive end-expiratory transpulmonary pressures were calculated.

Results

At baseline, transpulmonary driving pressures increased in each body mass index category (1.9 ± 0.5 cm H2O; mean difference ± SD; P < 0.006), and subjects with a body mass index of 40 or higher had decreased mean end-expiratory transpulmonary pressures compared with those with body mass index of less than 25 (–7.5 ± 6.3 vs. –1.3 ± 3.4 cm H2O; P < 0.001). Pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg each further elevated transpulmonary driving pressures (2.8 ± 0.7 and 4.7 ± 1.0 cm H2O, respectively; P < 0.001) and depressed end-expiratory transpulmonary pressures (–3.4 ± 1.3 and –4.5 ± 1.5 cm H2O, respectively; P < 0.001) compared with baseline. Optimal positive end-expiratory pressure was greater than set positive end-expiratory pressure in 79% of subjects at baseline, 88% with pneumoperitoneum, 95% in Trendelenburg, and ranged from 0 to 36.6 cm H2O depending on body mass index and surgical stage.

Conclusions

Increasing body mass index induces significant alterations in lung mechanics during robotic laparoscopic surgery, but there is a wide range in the degree of impairment. Positive end-expiratory pressure settings may need individualization based on body mass index and surgical conditions.

What We Already Know about This Topic
  • Prior studies suggest that intraoperative use of standardized tidal volumes based on ideal body weight are beneficial. However, attempts to define optimal positive end-expiratory pressure levels remain elusive given varying effects of body habitus and dynamic surgical conditions (pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenberg positioning).
  • Using esophageal manometry, the authors partitioned respiratory mechanical properties into lung and chest wall components in patients undergoing robotic laparoscopic surgery to assess the effects of obesity, pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenberg positioning on transpulmonary driving pressures and estimate optimal positive end-expiratory pressure for a given degree of obesity or surgical condition.
What This Article Tells Us That Is New
  • Obese patients demonstrated increased driving pressures and decreased mean end-expiratory transpulmonary pressures. Pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenberg position further accentuated these differences. The optimal positive end-expiratory pressure was greater than set positive end-expiratory pressure in most subjects at all stages, ranging from 0 to 36.6 cm H2O.
  • Intraoperative positive end-expiratory pressure settings should account for dynamic changes in transpulmonary driving and end-expiratory pressures related to these factors. How best to accomplish this clinically remains uncertain.