Effects of steep Trendelenburg position for robotic-assisted prostatectomies on intra- and extrathoracic airways in patients with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Robotic-assisted prostatectomy in the steep Trendelenburg position led to an increase in upper airway resistance directly after surgery that normalized within 24 h. The development of chemosis can be indicative of increased upper airway resistance. In patients without COPD, VC and FEV1 were reduced after surgery and recovered within 5 days, while in patients with COPD, the alteration lasted beyond 5 days.