Effect of ventilation strategy during cardiopulmonary bypass on postoperative pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: To determine whether maintaining ventilation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a different fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) had an impact on the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs).

Methods: A total of 413 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with CPB were randomly assigned into three groups: 138 in the NoV group (received no mechanical ventilation during CPB), 138 in the LOV group (received a tidal volume (V) of 3-4 ml/kg of ideal body weight with the respiratory rate of 10-12 bpm, and the positive end-expiratory pressure of 5-8 cmHO during CPB; the FiO was 30%), and 137 in the HOV group (received the same ventilation parameters settings as the LOV group while the FiO was 80%).

Results: The primary outcomes were the incidence and severity of PPCs during hospitalization.