Should acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) preventative ventilation be standard in the adult operating room?

Abstract

Dr. X is leaving for the night after starting anesthesia for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Dr. Y comes into the operating room (OR) to take over the case. The patient is a 70 kg, 5'3", 45-year-old female with a history of hypertension. The surgery is being performed under general endotracheal anesthesia. Dr. X has set the ventilator to volume control, at a tidal volume of 700 mL, respiratory rate of 12, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 50 %, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 0. After Dr. X has completed his turnover of the case, Dr. Y reaches over to the ventilator and reduces the tidal volume to 400 mL. Dr. X asks Dr. Y why he has changed the ventilator settings.