Prediction of hypotension during the alveolar recruitment maneuver in spine surgery: a prospective observational study

Abstract Background Atelectasis can occur in many clinical practices. One way to prevent this complication is through the alveolar recruitment maneuver (ARM). However, hemodynamic compromise can accompany ARM. This study aims to predict ARM-induced hypotension using a non-invasive method. Methods 94 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II patients aged 19 to 75 with scheduled spinal surgery were enrolled. After anesthesia, we performed a stepwise ARM. Data on perfusion index, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, pleth variability index, cardiac index, and stroke volume variation was collected before induction of anesthesia (T0), just before ARM (T1), at the start of ARM (T2), 0.5 min (T3), 1 min (T4), 1.5 min (T5, end of ARM), and 2 min after the beginning of ARM (T6). Hypotension was defined as when the mean arterial pressure at T5 decreased by 20% or more compared to the baseline. The primary endpoint is that the perfusion index measuring before induction of anesthesia, which reflects the patients’ own vascular tone, was correlated with hypotension during ARM. Results Seventy-five patients (79.8%) patients developed hypotension during ARM. The pre-induction persufion index (Pi) (95% confidence interval) was 1.7(1.4–3.1) in the non-hypotension group and 3.4(2.4–3.9) in the hypotension group. (p