Two modes of mechanical ventilation for laparoscopy in infants

Objective To explore rational mode of respiratory management for laparoscopic operations under general anesthesia in infants. Methods Forty infants with the age ranging from 1 to 3 months who were scheduled for elective laparoscopy were enrolled in this study. The infants were incubated and anesthetized with intravenous-inhalation anesthesia. During CO2 pneumoperitoneum, infants were randomly ventilated by pressure controlled ventilation(PCV) or volume controlled ventilation (VCV). Peak airway pressure (Ppeak), mean airway pressure (Pmean), thorax-lung compliance (C) and hemodynamic parameters of the patients were monitored before pneumoperitoneum(T1), 15 and 30 minutes during CO2 pneumoperitoneum(T2 and T3). Blood samples for blood gas analysis were taken at T1 and T3. Results Compared with the values at T1, the thorax-lung compliance (C) at T2 and T3 decreased significantly in both groups (P 0.05). Conclusions During laparoscopy under general anesthesia in young infants, PCV can provide effective mechanical ventilation with relatively lower peak inspiratory airway pressure, which had more superiority than VCV in preventing ventilator-induced lung injury. Key words: Infant;  Surgical procedures, laparoscopic;  Pneumoperitoneum