Comparison of Ventilation Strategies Across the Perioperative Period in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Narrative Review.

General anesthesia is a critical component of surgical procedures, requiring effective ventilation strategies to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent complications. This narrative review aims to compare various ventilation techniques used during general anesthesia, focusing on their physiological foundations, clinical applications, and outcomes. Traditional methods, such as high tidal volume ventilation, have evolved into more sophisticated approaches, including protective lung ventilation, which are particularly beneficial for high-risk patients with respiratory comorbidities. The review highlights that protective lung ventilation, characterized by lower tidal volumes and optimal positive end-expiratory pressure, is associated with improved oxygenation, reduced incidence of post-operative pulmonary complications, and enhanced overall recovery. Despite the advantages of personalized ventilation approaches, current evidence remains limited by small sample sizes and variability in study designs. This underscores the need for larger, randomized controlled trials to establish definitive guidelines. Future research should also explore emerging technologies to optimize the real-time management of ventilation parameters. The findings emphasize the importance of individualized ventilation strategies in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes and inform policy development. By advancing our understanding of ventilation techniques, this review aims to contribute to safer anesthesia practices and enhance recovery in surgical patients.