Postoperative Hypoxemia After Dual-Controlled vs Volume-Controlled Ventilation in Lung Surgery

One-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery represents a challenge due to the risk for hypoxemia and barotrauma. Dual-controlled ventilation (ie, pressure-regulated volume control [PRVC]) may confer improved lung mechanics compared with conventional ventilation (volume-controlled ventilation [VCV]). Our objective was to determine the association between ventilatory mode and pulmonary outcomes after lung resection surgery.

A historical cohort (2016-2021) of patients undergoing lung resection surgery was used to identify cases performed with PRVC ventilation (intervention) vs VCV (conventional). Both groups were matched in a 1:1 fashion using propensity scoring based on preoperative oxygen saturation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intraoperative ventilator settings, and surgical approach. Our primary outcome was postoperative hypoxemia (oxygen saturation <92% requiring supplemental oxygen longer than 2 hours). Secondary outcomes included respiratory failure, pneumonia, atelectasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pleural effusion, and reintubation. Associations were reported using adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

Of 2107 eligible patients (PRVC = 1587 vs VCV = 520), a total of 774 matched pairs were analyzed (PRVC = 387 vs VCV = 387). The overall incidence of postoperative hypoxemia was 35.5% (95% CI 32.2%-39.0%). Hypoxemia was less likely among patients managed with low tidal volumes (≤6 mL/kg per ideal body weight, aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.92, P = .008). No significant association was observed between ventilator mode and postoperative hypoxemia (33.3% in PRVC vs 37.7% in VCV; aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.71-1.23, P = .627) or secondary pulmonary complications (3.9% in PRVC vs 3.4% in VCV; aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.47-1.97, P = .909).

Dual-controlled ventilation was not associated with improved pulmonary outcomes compared with conventional ventilation in lung resection surgery.