Flow Controlled as Compared to Pressure-Controlled Ventilation for One-Lung Ventilation During Thoracic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Respiratory Physiology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Intraoperative ventilation, especially one-lung ventilation (OLV), presents significant challenges in thoracic surgery.
• Altered respiratory mechanics necessitate high inspiratory pressures, recruitment maneuvers, and high inspired oxygen fractions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) in managing patients undergoing thoracic surgery requiring OLV.
• To assess FCV's impact on respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and hemodynamic stability.

Main Methods:

• Case series of three patients undergoing thoracic surgery with OLV.
• Ventilation managed using flow-controlled ventilation (FCV).
• Monitoring of respiratory parameters, gas exchange, and hemodynamics.

Main Results:

• FCV maintained stable ventilation during OLV without repeated recruitment maneuvers.
• FCV demonstrated improved gas exchange compared to conventional methods.
• Hemodynamic stability was observed throughout the procedure with FCV.

Conclusions:

• Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) may offer advantages over pressure-controlled ventilation in thoracic surgery.
• FCV facilitates more effective alveolar recruitment and improved gas exchange during OLV.
• FCV presents a promising alternative for intraoperative ventilation in complex thoracic procedures.