Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients requiring mechanical ventilation for abdominal laparoscopic and robotic surgeries.
• Patients who are passively ventilated (no respiratory efforts) as a result of the sedation plan determined entirely by the primary anesthesia team --research team will not influence or participate on the sedation protocol plan or implementation.
• Patients who are clinically stable and able to tolerate the changes in position that are routinely conducted as part of the standard of care in the operative room.
• Patient/responsible family member signing the informed consent must speak English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with open abdomen prior to surgical procedures.
• Body mass index (BMI) greater than 35.
• Patients with clinically evident spontaneous breathing efforts (ventilator wave forms) during surgical procedure.
• Patients with clinical suspicion of elevated intra-cranial pressure (requiring head elevation).
• Contraindication to body position change, as dictated by surgery-specific protocol.
• Unstable cardio-respiratory insufficiency.
• Age less than 18 years.
• Cuff leak in endotracheal / tracheostomy tube.
• Patient/responsible family member unable to understand the informed consent in English.
• Patient with contraindication for nasogastric tube placement:
  • Severe midface trauma
  • Recent nasal surgery
  • Coagulation abnormality
  • Esophageal varices or stricture
  • Recent banding of esophageal varices
  • Alkaline ingestion