Comparison of volume-controlled and pressure-controlled ventilation during laryngeal mask airway anesthesia in cataract surgery

Introduction: Most patients undergoing eye surgery are elderly adults with underlying cardiovascular diseases. One of the complications during recovery is gastric insufflation, which can cause detrimental effects on cardiovascular patients. The present study compares two methods of volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) and pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV). Methods: The study enrolled 81 patients undergoing cataract surgery (41 in the PCV group and 40 in the VCV group). According to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classes I and II received general anaesthesia and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ventilation using VCV or PCV. Maximum pressure (Ppeak), dynamic compliance, expiratory tidal volume, Spo2, non-invasive blood pressure, heart rate, and pain in the epigastrium and umbilical region were monitored at intervals of 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes after the initiation of anaesthesia and the results of two groups were compared. Results: The means of Ppeak and tidal volume in the PCV group as well as the means of dynamic compliance and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) in the VCV group were significantly high. The mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly different between two groups at 20th minute. There were no significant differences in heart rate, mean systolic blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, or abdominal pain between two study groups. Conclusion: VCV had a lower Ppeak and a higher dynamic compliance, but PCV had a larger tidal volume and lower EtCO2. There were no differences in terms of abdominal and umbilicus pain, as well as hemodynamic parameters, between two groups.