Abstract:Objective To investigate the preventive effect of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) combined with low tidal volume, as part of a lung-protective ventilation strategy, on postoperative lung injury in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV) for lobectomy under general anesthesia, and to provide a basis for optimizing clinical ventilation protocols.Methods This prospective study enrolled 200 patients who underwent lobectomy at Xingtai Central Hospital from March 2022 to March 2025. Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group or the observation group (n = 100 per group). The control group received low PEEP combined with low tidal volume ventilation, while the observation group received high PEEP combined with low tidal volume ventilation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) were recorded at four time points: before OLV (T0), at 60 minutes of OLV (T1), at the end of surgery (T2), and on postoperative day 1 (T3). Pulmonary function was compared between groups before surgery and on postoperative day 1. Surgical parameters, OLV duration, and perioperative indices were recorded, and the incidence of adverse events and total hospital stay were statistically analyzed.Results Comparisons of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) at time points T0, T1, T2, and T3 between the observation group and the control group were performed using repeated - measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results were as follows: (1) Regarding MAP, there was a statistically significant difference among different time points (P < 0.05); however, no statistically significant differences were observed in HR, CI, or EVLWI among different time points (P > 0.05). (2) Statistically significant differences were found in MAP, HR, and CI between the two groups (P < 0.05). Specifically, the observation group had lower MAP and HR, as well as a higher CI, indicating a relatively better sedative effect. No statistically significant difference was detected in EVLWI between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) There were no statistically significant differences in the change trends of MAP, HR, CI, or EVLWI between the two groups (P > 0.05). The differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio at time points T0 and T3 between the observation group and the control group were also analyzed using repeated - measures ANOVA. The results showed: (1) Statistically significant differences were present in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio among different time points (P < 0.05). (2) Inter - group comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio between the two groups (P < 0.05). The observation group exhibited higher values of FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio, suggesting relatively better pulmonary function. (3) There were statistically significant differences in the change trends of FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total hospital stay and operation time in the control group were both longer than those in the observation group, whereas the one - lung ventilation time in the control group was shorter than that in the observation group (P < 0.05). The tidal volume, inspired oxygen concentration, peak airway pressure, and mean airway pressure in the control group were all higher than those in the observation group (P < 0.05). The differences in fluid infusion volume, urine output, and thoracic drainage volume at time points T1 and T3 between the observation group and the control group were analyzed by repeated - measures ANOVA. The results were: (1) Statistically significant differences were found in fluid infusion volume, urine output, and thoracic drainage volume among different time points (P < 0.05). (2) Inter - group comparisons showed statistically significant differences in fluid infusion volume, urine output, and thoracic drainage volume between the two groups (P < 0.05). Specifically, the observation group had a higher fluid infusion volume, along with lower urine output and thoracic drainage volume, indicating a relatively better perioperative recovery. (3) There were statistically significant differences were observed in the change trends of fluid infusion volume and urine output between the two groups (P < 0.05), while no statistically significant difference was found in the change trend of thoracic drainage volume between the two groups (P > 0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion High PEEP combined with low tidal volume ventilation significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative adverse events in patients undergoing lobectomy, improved oxygenation and lung compliance, and shortened hospital stay. The underlying mechanisms may include reduced driving pressure, decreased release of inflammatory mediators, and optimized ventilation-perfusion matching.