This study investigates how different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) impact lung ventilation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. General anaesthesia during surgery can lead to complications like atelectasis (lung collapse) and reduced oxygen levels, particularly in the lower lung regions. This is worsened by the pressure from the abdominal insufflation used in laparoscopic procedures.

To manage this, PEEP is often used to keep the lungs inflated, but too much pressure can also cause overdistension, which might be harmful. The study aims to explore how two different PEEP levels (5 cm H2O and 10 cm H2O) affect lung ventilation and oxygenation, using a technique called electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which provides real-time images of lung activity.

The study’s primary goal is to compare how these two PEEP levels impact lung regions, specifically looking at lung collapse and overdistension at different stages of surgery. Secondary goals include analyzing the relationship between ventilation and other ventilatory parameters, assessing the role of EIT in guiding lung recruitment maneuvers, and determining how oxygen supplementation needs change post-surgery.

Conducted at AIIMS Mangalagiri, this is a randomized controlled study involving patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It will monitor ventilation using the Drager Pulmovista 500 EIT system and compare oxygenation and lung mechanics during different phases of the surgery.

This research could provide valuable insights into how to optimize PEEP settings during laparoscopic surgery, reducing risks of lung complications and improving patient outcomes.