The effect of treatment with continuous positive atmospheric pressure (CPAP) administered immediately postoperatively and every hour until the morning of the following day was investigated. Treatment was administered in an intensive care unit with therapeutic periods of 5 to 10 minutes. The investigation was randomized and prospective. The criteria for atelectasis were assessed both radiographically by x-rays of the thorax and by means of arterial tension by arterial punctures preoperatively and on the first and third postoperative days. The material comprized 54 patients. In the untreated group, 60% developed atelectasis while 52% in the treated group developed this complication. Sequential analysis was employed in statistical assessment and no significant difference between the two groups was found.

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