Pulmonary atelectasis following upper urinary tract surgery on patients in the 25 degrees and 45 degrees 'jack-knife'...

The development of pulmonary atelectasis following upper urinary tract surgery in patients positioned either in the 25 degrees or the 45 degrees 'jack-knife' position was evaluated in a randomized clinical trial with sequential analysis. Atelectasis was diagnosed from chest radiographs and/or from a decrease in arterial oxygen tension during the first three postoperative days. 32.1% of 78 patients developed atelectasis, but no statistically significant differences was found between the two positions.