Mechanical power during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: an observational study

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position. Our aim was to investigate the influence of the combination of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position on mechanical power and its components during RALP.

Sixty-one prospectively enrolled patients scheduled for RALP were studied in supine position before surgery, during pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position and in supine position after surgery at constant ventilatory setting. In a subgroup of 17 patients the response to increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) from 5 to 10 cmH₂O was studied.

The application of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position increased the total mechanical power (13.8 [11.6 - 15.5] vs 9.2 [7.5 - 11.7] J/min, p < 0.001) and its elastic and resistive components compared to supine position before surgery. In supine position after surgery the total mechanical power and its elastic component decreased but remained higher compared to supine position before surgery. Increasing PEEP from 5 to 10 cmH₂O within each timepoint significantly increased the total mechanical power (supine position before surgery: 9.8 [8.4 - 10.4] vs 12.1 [11.4 - 14.2] J/min, p < 0.001; pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position: 13.8 [12.2 - 14.3] vs 15.5 [15.0 - 16.7] J/min, p < 0.001; supine position after surgery: 10.2 [9.4 - 10.7] vs 12.7 [12.0 - 13.6] J/min, p < 0.001), without affecting respiratory system elastance.

Mechanical power in healthy patients undergoing RALP significantly increased both during the pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position and in supine position after surgery. PEEP always increased mechanical power without ameliorating the respiratory system elastance.