Better intraoperative cardiopulmonary stability and similar postoperative results of spontaneous ventilation combined with intubation than non-intubated thoracic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Non-intubated spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy is a well-known procedure, but there are doubts regarding its safety. To solve this problem, we developed a safe procedure for spontaneous ventilation thoracic surgery (spontaneous ventilation with intubation). This study analyzed the intraoperative parameters and postoperative results of spontaneous ventilation with intubation. METHODS: Between March 11, 2020 and March 26, 2021, 38 spontaneous ventilation with intubation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomies were performed. We chose the first 38 non-intubated spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy cases with a laryngeal mask performed in 2017 for comparison. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the non-intubated spontaneous ventilation and spontaneous ventilation with intubation groups in postoperative surgical results (surgical time: 98,7 vs. 88,1 min (p = 0.067); drainage time: 3.5 vs. 2.7 days (p = 0.194); prolonged air leak 15.7% vs. 10.5% (p = 0.5); conversion rate to relaxation: 5.2% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.237); failure of the spontaneous ventilation rate: 10.5% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.724); and morbidity: 21% vs. 13.1% (p = 0.364)) and oncological outcomes. Significantly lower lowest systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic, 83.1 vs 132.3 mmHg, p = 0.001; diastolic 47.8 vs. 73.4 mmHg, p = 0.0001), lowest oxygen saturation (90.3% vs 94.9%, p = 0.026), and higher maximum pCO2 level (62.5 vs 54.8 kPa, p = 0.009) were found in the non-intubated spontaneous ventilation group than in the spontaneous ventilation with intubation group. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous ventilation with intubation is a more physiological procedure than non-intubated spontaneous ventilation in terms of intraoperative blood pressure stability and gas exchange. The surgical results were similar in the two groups.

Conversion method to manage surgical difficulties in non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for major lung resection: simple thoracotomy without intubation.

BACKGROUND: The major limitations of widespread use of non-intubated thoracic surgery (NITS) is the fear of managing complications. Here we present our practice of converting from uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) NITS to open NITS in cases of surgical complications. METHODS: The study period was from January 26, 2017, to November 30, 2018. Total intravenous anesthesia was provided with propofol guided by bispectral index, and the airway was maintained with a laryngeal mask with spontaneous breathing. Local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine at the skin incision, and intercostal and vagus nerve blockades were induced using 0.5% bupivacaine. For conversion with surgical indications, a thoracotomy was performed at the incision without additional local or general anesthetics. RESULTS: In 160 complete NITS procedures, there were 145 VATS NITS and 15 open NITS (9 conversions to open NITS and 6 intended NITS thoracotomies). In the 15 open NITS cases (2 pneumonectomies, 1 bilobectomy, 1 sleeve lobectomy, 7 lobectomies, 3 sublobar resections, 1 exploration), the mean operative time was 146.7 (105-225) and 110 (75-190) minutes in the converted and intended open NITS groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between systolic blood pressure (P=0.316; 95% CI, -10.469 to 3.742), sat O2% (P=0.27; 95% CI, -1.902 to 0.593), or propofol concentration in the effect site (P=0.053; 95% CI, -0.307 to 0.002) but significant differences in pulse (P=0.007; 95% CI, -10.001 to -2.72), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.013; 95% CI, -9.489 to -1.420) and in end-tidal CO2 (P=0.016; 95% CI, -7.484 to -0.952) before versus after thoracotomy, but there was no clinical relevance of the differences. CONCLUSIONS: For conversion with surgical indications during the VATS-NITS procedure, NITS thoracotomy can be performed safely at the site of the utility incision without the need for additional drugs, and the major lung resections can be performed through this approach.

Effects of goal-directed crystalloid vs. colloid fluid therapy on microcirculation during free flap surgery: A randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Macro, and microcirculatory effects of crystalloids and colloids are difficult to compare, because interventions to achieve haemodynamic stability seldom follow similar criteria. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare the effects of crystalloids and colloids on the microcirculation during free flap surgery when management was guided by detailed haemodynamic assessment. DESIGN: A randomised, controlled clinical trial. SETTINGS: The investigation was performed at the University of Szeged, Hungary. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing maxillofacial tumour resection and free flap reconstruction were randomised into groups treated with either intra-operative crystalloid (Ringerfundin, n = 15) or colloid (6% hydroxyethyl starch, HES, n = 15) solutions. INTERVENTIONS: Macrohaemodynamics were monitored by a noncalibrated device (PulsioFlex-PULSION). Central venous oxygen saturation, venous-to-arterial PCO2-gap, lactate levels and urine output were measured hourly. Maintenance fluid was Ringerfundin (1 ml kg h), and a multimodal, individualised, approach-based algorithm was applied to guide haemodynamic support. Hypovolaemia was treated with Ringerfundin or HES fluid boluses, respectively. The microcirculatory effects were assessed by laser-Doppler flowmetry (PeriFlux 5000 LDPM), with the probe placed on the flap and on a control area. Measurements were performed after the flap was prepared, then 1 and 12 h later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end-point was microcirculatory perfusion as determined by laser-Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups regarding patient characteristics. Both groups remained haemodynamically stable throughout due to the use of approximately a 1.5 times higher total fluid volume in the Ringerfundin group than in the HES group: mean ±â€ŠSD: 2581 ±â€Š986 and 1803 ±â€Š497) ml, respectively, (P = 0.011). There was no significant difference in the microcirculatory blood flow between the groups. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that when fluid management was guided by detailed haemodynamic assessment, more crystalloid than colloid was needed to maintain haemodynamic stability, but there was no difference between the effects of crystalloids and colloids on the microcirculation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03288051.

Non-intubated anaesthetic technique in open bilobectomy in a patient with severely impaired lung function.

General anaesthesia has been the most commonly used method for almost all types of thoracic surgery. Recently, there has been a growing interest in non-intubated anaesthetic techniques. The rationale being, to prevent complications related to general anaesthesia and positive pressure ventilation such as barotrauma or ventilation-perfusion mismatch. We present a case with severely impaired forced expiration volume (26%), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (26%) and VO2max (13.9 mL/kg/min). According to current guidelines, this patient was suitable to undergo one-lung ventilation only with high risk of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we chose the non-intubated technique for thoracotomy. Oxygenation was satisfactory throughout, the patient remained hemodynamically stable and the operation was uneventful. Oxygen supplementation was stopped from day 2 and he was discharged on day 7. To our knowledge, this is the first case report where a planned non-intubated method was applied for thoracotomy, and our results suggest that it might be a feasible and safe approach for open thoracotomy in difficult cases where severely impaired lung function indicates that one lung ventilation may carry significant risks.