This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of adding an intensive vs moderate alveolar recruitment strategy to protective ventilation on the number and severity of pulmonary complications following cardiac surgery. An intensive recruitment strategy compared with a moderate recruitment strategy to treat patients with hypoxemia after cardiac surgery resulted in significantly lower severity of pulmonary complications during the hospital stay. The strategy caused a consistent shift to lower scores that favored use of an intensive recruitment strategy. A more intensive alveolar recruitment strategy applied postoperatively may reduce the severity of pulmonary complications in patients with hypoxemia after cardiac surgery.

Among patients with hypoxemia after cardiac surgery, the use of an intensive vs a moderate alveolar recruitment strategy resulted in less severe pulmonary complications while in the hospital.

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