Thoracic Anesthesia

Abstract

Thoracic surgeons are able to perform increasingly complex operations in large part because of the development of innovative anesthesia techniques. The anesthetic management of the patient undergoing thoracic surgery is uniquely challenging because hemodynamic stability and oxygenation must be maintained while intentionally ventilating only one lung. This article reviews the major current clinical considerations in the choice of anesthetic agents, the maintenance of selective lung ventilation, the management of fluid and ventilation during one-lung ventilation, and the provision of postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Key Words:

One-lung ventilation - hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction - double-lumen tubes - bronchial blockade