Continuous positive airway pressure reduces respiratory complications following abdominal surgery.

Objective: To review the evidence as to whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces postoperative pulmonary complications compared with standard care in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data sources: OVID version of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, searched to November 2005. This search was supplemented by mail and phone follow up of authors to retrieve mortality data. Study selection: Randomised controlled trials involving adults who underwent elective major abdominal surgery other than abdominal aortic aneurism repair in which CPAP plus standard care (physiotherapy and oxygen therapy) was compared to standard care only. Outcome measures were postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), pneumonia, atelectasis, endotracheal intubation, and mortality. Data extraction: Two reviewers extracted data and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Methodological quality was assessed using a scoring system between 0 and 11 where randomisation, concealment, blinding, patient selection, Continuous positive airway pressure reduces respiratory complications following abdominal surgery