New trends in anaesthesia for thoracic surgery including thoracoscopy

Abstract

The major recent advances in thoracic anaesthesia include: 1 Improved prediction of patients at risk of postoperative respiratory failure. 2 Improved intraoperative monitoring of oxygenation and ventilation. 3 Improved double-lumen tubes and bronchial blockers to provide lung isolation. 4 The routine use of fibreoptic bronchoscopy to aid in the positioning double-lumen tubes or blockers. 5 The ability to predict which patients are most at risk for becoming hypoxaemic during one-lung anaesthesia. 6 The prophylactic use of appropriately applied CPAP. 7 Spontaneous ventilation during thoracoscopy. 8 Postoperative neuraxial analgesia. © 1995 Canadian Anesthesiologists.