PROtective Ventilation With FLOW-Controlled Ventilation

The investigators want to investigate in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (a minimally invasive procedure) how applicable flow-controlled ventilation is, and whether it might also be safer than the current ventilation techniques, as well as its impact on potentially reducing the risk of lung-specific complications. Flow-controlled ventilation has already been tested in several studies on animals and humans and has proven to be a safe form of ventilation for patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. When patients undergo major surgery, general anesthesia is required and, as a result, mechanical ventilation of the lungs. Especially in long and complex surgeries, ventilation can become more difficult or lead to complications postoperatively. These patients may then experience shortness of breath, coughing, or require medication to improve lung function. In some cases, reintubation or additional mechanical ventilation may be necessary for support. Previous human studies have shown that flow-controlled ventilation is less stressful and, therefore, potentially safer for the lungs compared to traditional ventilation techniques, and that less supplemental oxygen is required. This effect and the safety of flow-controlled ventilation have been demonstrated in several studies. Therefore, in this study, the investigators aim to explore whether flow-controlled ventilation is potentially safer and easier to apply than traditional ventilation techniques and whether it can reduce the risk of lung-specific complications following robot-assisted surgeries, thereby improving the recovery process postoperatively.

NCT Number	NCT06703814
Lead Sponsor	Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen Collaborators: University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Medical University Innsbruck
Conditions	Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PPCs), Feasibility Studies, Pilot Study
Enrollment	100 participants
Start Date	2025-08-02
Primary Completion	2026-04-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-05-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-21