Prophylactic use of helmet CPAP after pulmonary lobectomy: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: Patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy carry a high risk of respiratory complications after surgery. The postoperative prophylactic treatment with helmet CPAP may prevent postoperative acute respiratory failure and improve the P(aO(2))/F(IO(2)).

Methods: We randomly allocated 50 subjects to receive continuous oxygen therapy (air-entrainment mask, F(IO(2)) 0.

Forehead reflectance oximetry: a clinical comparison with conventional digit sensors during laparotomic and laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Objective: This study compared the performance of forehead reflectance and conventional pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) in mechanically ventilated, anesthetized patients undergoing major abdominal surgery with either laparoscopic or laparotomic techniques.

Methods: SpO(2) was continuously measured both with a forehead reflectance and a conventional digit sensor in 20 ASA physical status I-III, anesthetized patients undergoing either a laparotomic (group Laparotomy, n = 10) or laparoscopic (group Laparoscopy, n = 10) major abdominal surgery. SpO(2) values measured with the two sensors were continuously recorded at 10-second intervals during the entire procedure, and then analyzed for consistency.