Routine use of continuous positive airway pressure after major abdominal surgery

Abstract

The prevention, recognition, and treatment of postoperative pulmonary complications utilises considerable equipment and personnel resources worldwide. Early mobilisation and a variety of respiratory therapies have been used in an effort to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. These therapies include intermittent positive pressure breathing, incentive spirometry, chest physiotherapy, positive expiratory pressure, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).1 In The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the PRISM trial group reported the effect of CPAP for the prevention of pneumonia, re-intubation, and death after major abdominal surgery.