ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of intraoperative ventilation modes with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in adult patients undergoing selective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsThe clinical data of 604 patients who underwent selective cardiac surgical procedures under CPB in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University from June to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 293 males and 311 females with an average age of 52.0±13.0 years. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the ventilation modes, including a pressure-controlled ventilation-volume guarantee (PCV-VG) group (n=201), a pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) group (n=200) and a volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) group (n=203). The association between intraoperative ventilation modes and PPCs (defined as composite of pneumonia, respiratory failure, atelectasis, pleural effusion and pneumothorax within 7 days after surgery) was analyzed using modified poisson regression. ResultsThe PPCs were found in a total of 246 (40.7%) patients, including 86 (42.8%) in the PCV-VG group, 75 (37.5%) in the PCV group and 85 (41.9%) in the VCV group. In the multivariable analysis, there was no statistical difference in PPCs risk associated with the use of either PCV-VG mode (aRR=0.951, 95%CI 0.749-1.209, P=0.683) or PCV mode (aRR= 0.827, 95%CI 0.645-1.060, P=0.133) compared with VCV mode. ConclusionAmong adults receiving selective cardiac surgery, PPCs risk does not differ significantly by using different intraoperative ventilation modes.