Introduction
respiratory complications, atelectasis
RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS, ADVERSE EFFECTS, ATELECTASIS
General anesthesia increases the risk of respiratory complications through the development of atelectasis in dorsal-dependent regions of the lungs, reducing end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) and impairing arterial oxygenationPostoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) in patients with non-injured lungs are quite commonElectrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive, radiation-free, bedside monitoring system that detects real time regional ventilation changes during perioperative mechanical ventilation; it may be a useful tool to guide individualized protective ventilation strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of anesthesia and surgery on the respiratory systemWith those premises in mind, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of protective mechanical ventilation on ventilation distributions recorded by the EIT during elective robotic-assisted laparoscopy surgery with steep Trendelenburg position.