Cerebral Hemodynamic Effects of Individualized PEEP During Robotic Prostatectomy

This single-center, prospective, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial will evaluate the effects of individualized positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration compared with standard fixed PEEP on cerebral hemodynamics during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in steep Trendelenburg position with pneumoperitoneum.

Approximately 45 adult patients aged 18-80 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III who are scheduled for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either an individualized PEEP group or a standard PEEP group. All patients will receive standardized general anesthesia and volume-controlled ventilation. Ventilation will initially be set with a tidal volume of 8 mL/kg predicted body weight, an inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio of 1:2, and an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.40, with end-tidal carbon dioxide maintained at 35-40 mmHg.

In the standard PEEP group, PEEP will be maintained at 6 cmH2O following a recruitment maneuver. In the individualized PEEP group, a decremental PEEP titration will be performed after recruitment. PEEP will be decreased from 15 to 5 cmH2O in 1-cmH2O steps, and respiratory mechanics will be assessed after 12 respiratory cycles at each level. The PEEP level associated with the lowest driving pressure will be selected as the individualized PEEP and maintained during the relevant intraoperative period.

Cerebral hemodynamics will be assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of the middle cerebral artery. Pulsatility index and resistance index will be recorded, and noninvasive estimated intracranial pressure will be calculated from the pulsatility index using the formula nICPPI = 10.93 × PI - 1.28. Transcranial Doppler measurements will be performed after anesthesia induction, 60 minutes after initiation of steep Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum, and 10 minutes after termination of Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum before emergence from anesthesia.

The primary outcome will be the between-group difference in the change in noninvasive estimated intracranial pressure from the post-induction measurement to the measurement obtained 60 minutes after initiation of Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum (ΔnICPPI, T4-T2). Secondary assessments will include cerebral oxygenation measured using near-infrared spectroscopy, additional transcranial Doppler parameters, intraoperative hemodynamic and respiratory variables, and postoperative neurocognitive outcomes.

Postoperative attention and cognitive status will be assessed using the Months of the Year Backwards Test, delirium using the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, and sedation/agitation using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale. These assessments will be performed at predefined postoperative time points for up to 48 hours. Additional postoperative cognitive and delirium assessments will include the Mini-Mental State Examination and 3D-Confusion Assessment Method. The transcranial Doppler operator and postoperative outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation, while the anesthesiologist performing the PEEP intervention cannot be blinded.