Ultrasound for Postop Lung Issues in Low-Flow Anesthesia

Overview

Detecting possible atelectasis and other respiratory problems that may develop immediately after extubation via lung ultrasonography can reduce pulmonary complications by performing necessary interventions such as oxygen support, respiratory exercises, mobilization, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation applications at an early stage. In addition, although low-flow anesthesia is frequently used in daily anesthesia practice, publications showing the effects of its use in laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations on pulmonary complications are limited. On this occasion, this study can be presented as a contribution to the literature.

Postoperative atelectasis is a common complication that can develop in all patients receiving general anesthesia. The frequency of atelectasis increases due to increased intraabdominal pressure, especially in laparoscopic surgeries performed with pneumoperitoneum. For this reason, in order to prevent postoperative complications related to the lungs, it is extremely important to recognize atelectasis at an early stage, as well as to recognize the mechanisms that will cause atelectasis and avoid them. Lung ultrasonography (Lung USG) draws attention for the rapid, cheap, safe and reliable detection of postoperative atelectasis. The fact that it can be applied at the bedside and can be easily repeated makes this method valuable. In the literature and in daily practice, it is seen that anesthesiologists commonly apply inhalation anesthesia with different fresh gas flow (FGF) rates during general anesthesia. As defined by Baker and Simionescu, in low-flow anesthesia, FGF varies between 0.5 and 1 liter per minute. It has been shown that all types of flow are safe with modern anesthesia machines. This study aims to demonstrate the effect of low-flow anesthesia (LFA) on pulmonary complications and, in particular, atelectasis that may develop after laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations, using a non-invasive, rapidly applicable, and proven method such as Lung USG.

Conditions