Introduction According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, chronic postthoracotomy pain is defined as “pain that recurs or persists along a thoracotomy incision at least 2 months following the surgical procedure”. The condition may also be referred…
Introduction In 2021, noncardiac thoracic surgery can range from minimally invasive, robot-assisted procedures, such as lung biopsies or resections, to more invasive procedures requiring thoracotomy such as pneumonectomy, esophagectomy, tracheal resection, or lung transplantation. The noxious stimulus associated with thoracic…
Introduction Pediatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery can be particularly challenging because of the differences in anatomy, physiology, and behavior in comparison to adult patients. The anesthesiologists must be cognizant of these to successfully manage these patients. The availability of proper…
Introduction Cardiac arrythmias are the most frequent postoperative complication affecting up to 20% of patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The most common arrhythmia is postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), which typically presents on postoperative day 1 to 5, peaks on postoperative day…
Introduction Managing fluid administration during lung resection by the anesthesiologist is very similar to a tightrope walker trying to balance the risk of acute lung injury (ALI) and that of acute kidney injury (AKI); there is a narrow margin of…
Introduction One-lung ventilation (OLV) was first described in 1931, and the first pneumonectomy for cancer was performed in 1933. Although technology has evolved since then, OLV still poses a challenge for the anesthesiologist. For several decades, the impairment of gas…
Introduction The intraoperative period is critical for the patient undergoing thoracic surgery, frequently performed for resection of lung cancer. Both surgery and anesthesia are required to help the patient to overcome and survive a disease amenable to surgical treatment, however,…
Introduction Postoperative pulmonary complications remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery. Approximately 230 million major surgical procedures are conducted annually worldwide. Perioperative pulmonary complications are common, occurring in up to 59% of patients. Approximately 2.7% of surgical…
Introduction One-lung ventilation (OLV) in the thoracic surgical patient who presents with a difficult airway can be achieved with the use of a single-lumen endotracheal tube with a bronchial blocker or with the use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT).…
Introduction Lung separation techniques are designed to facilitate surgical exposure and provide one-lung ventilation (OLV) in patients undergoing thoracic, mediastinal, cardiac, vascular, esophageal, or selective spine surgery. Lung separation can be achieved with two different techniques. The first involves the…