Key principles and recent developments for ventilatory management of the surgical critically ill patient

Abstract

Postoperative management of the critically ill surgical patient often requires surgery-specific strategies, yet several core principles remain consistent—particularly in the optimization of mechanical ventilation. This article highlights key principles and recent advancements underpinning best practices in respiratory support of postoperative patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), which are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Key principles and recent developments in respiratory postoperative care in the intensive care unit

Full size table