Effect of Body Posture on Lung Ventilation and Oxygenation During Carbon Dioxide Pneumoperitoneum in Rabbit

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of body position on respiratory compliance and oxygenation during iatrogenic pneumoperitoneum in the rabbit. The peak inspiratory pressure, dynamic compliance, static compliance and arterial gas parameters were calculated and measured 10 min before and 30 min after the creation of pneumoperitoneum with the patient in the horizontal position, 30 min after placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position and 30 min after placing the patient in the reversed Trendelenburg position. Following the creation of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg positioning, there was a significant increase in peak inspiratory pressure while dynamic and static respiratory compliance decreased. Similarly, arterial oxygenation increased during Trendelenburg position while arterial carbon pressure remained within limits during all positions. Overall, the reverse Trendelenburg position did not improve ventilation, neither the oxygenation. However, this position showed to be more appropriate because may reduce the risk of lung injury associated with high-pressure ventilation during pneumoperitoneum.