Efficacy of CO₂ insufflation during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the left lateral position

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) is widely performed as a minimally invasive technique in the management of esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of intrathoracic carbon dioxide (CO₂) insufflation during TE in the left lateral position.

From January 2010 to April 2016, 58 patients with esophageal cancer underwent TE without intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation (Group N) and 37 patients with esophageal cancer underwent TE with intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation (Group C). The operation results and respiratory parameters during the thoracic procedure were compared in both groups.

A satisfactory surgical field was obtained by CO₂ insufflation. There was no difference in the duration of the thoracic procedure or number of dissected mediastinal lymph nodes between the two groups. The amount of thoracic blood loss in Group C was significantly less than that in Group N (P < 0.05). Intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation did not affect oxygenation during single-lung ventilation. However, both end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) 1 h after single-lung ventilation and maximum ETCO₂ in Group C were significantly higher than those in Group N. Intraoperative hypercapnia in Group C was permissive. The rate of extubation in the operation room, mortality and morbidity were not different between the two groups.

Intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation is beneficial to make satisfactory surgical field and to reduce thoracic blood loss in TE. Application of intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation may contribute to the widespread adoption of TE in the left lateral position.