Pressure-controlled ventilation could decrease intraoperative blood loss and improve airway pressure measures during lumbar discectomy in the prone position: A comparison with volume-controlled ventilation mode

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prone positioning may induce alterations of hemodynamic and airway pressure parameters that may affect intraoperative (IO) blood loss. Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) may modify these alterations. To observe the relation between ventilation mode and hemodynamic, airway pressure changes, and blood loss during lumbar discectomy performed in the prone position. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) patients were using tidal volume (TV) of 8–10 ml/Kg, but for pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) patients peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was adjusted to provide the same TV according to ideal body weight. Respiratory and hemodynamic parameters were recorded in supine (T1), on turning to prone (T2), and on returning to the supine position (T3). Primary outcome included amount of IO blood loss; Secondary outcome included need for blood transfusion, IO hemodynamics, and airway pressure changes. RESULTS: IO blood loss and central venous pressure (CVP) were significantly higher with VCV than PCV patients. Heart rate and blood pressure were significantly reduced in the prone position with little impact of ventilation mode. Prone positioning resulted in significant increase of P-peak and non-significant decrease of P-mean pressure with VCV, while with PCV resulted in a significantly increased airway pressures. P-peak pressure was significantly lower with PCV in supine and prone positions than VCV. P-mean pressure was significantly lower in supine but significantly higher in the prone position with PCV than VCV. CONCLUSIONS: Prone positioning and VCV were associated with increased CVP and IO blood loss, while PCV could lessen these effects and significantly improve airway pressures.