Management Of Thoracic Surgery Research Articles

Perioperative pain management in thoracic surgery and side effects in the early postoperative period

Aim. To study the impact of various methods of perioperative pain management on the frequency of postoperative complications in patients with lung cancer after thoracotomy. Materials and methods. The study involved 157 patients who were divided into 4 groups. Multimodal analgesia (MA) group: according to the concept of preemptive analgesia, patients received 1000 mg paracetamol IV 1 hour before surgery and 50 mg dexketoprofen IV; in the postoperative period, dexketoprofen and paracetamol were administered every 8 hours as well as epidural analgesia: 40 mg of 2 % lidocaine solution after a catheter was placed and continuous ropivacaine infusion at a dose of 2 mg/ml (6–14 ml/h) in the postoperative period. Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) group: epidural analgesia: administration of 40 mg of 2 % lidocaine solution after catheter placement, continuous ropivacaine infusion in the postoperative period at a dose of 2 mg/ml (6–14 ml/h). Preemptive analgesia (PA) group: according to the concept of preemptive analgesia – 1000 mg IV paracetamol 1 hour before surgery as well as 50 mg IV dexketoprofen; in the postoperative period, dexketoprofen and paracetamol were administered every 8 hours. Control group (C): patients received 50 mg IV dexketoprofen for postoperative analgesia. If the severity of the pain syndrome was more than 50 mm according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), patients of all groups were given 10 mg IV morphine. The study involved the registration of side effects in the postoperative period. Results. Among 157 patients, complications in the postoperative period were observed in 61 patients (38.85 %). The frequency of complications in MA group was 10.8 % of the total number of patients, in TEA group – 12.7 %, PA – 6.4 %, and in C group – 8.9 %. The most common complaint among TEA group patients was injection-site itching (13.5 %). PA group patients had a significantly lower number of complications compared to TEA group (p = 0.035). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of nausea or urinary retention in patients of all groups (p > 0.05). No difference was noted in the number of pulmonary complications depending on the method of perioperative analgesia (p > 0.05). 31 patients (75.6 %) of PA group did not have any complications, that was significantly different from TEA (p = 0.021) and MA (p = 0.039) patient groups. Conclusions. The use of paracetamol and dexketoprofen combination in the perioperative period allows to reduce (p = 0.035) the total number of postoperative anesthetic complications compared to the use of only thoracic epidural analgesia. The use of a multimodal approach combining epidural analgesia and administration of paracetamol and dexketoprofen does not reduce (p > 0.05) the overall frequency of complications compared to patients without epidural analgesia.

Intravenous infusion of lidocaine as a component of opioid-free anesthesia in thoracic surgery: prospective randomized single-center observational study

BACKGROUND: The possibility of reducing doses of narcotic analgesics during the perioperative period is widely discussed in modern scientific literature. This direction is called opioid-free anesthesia and is used in abdominal surgery, oncology, gynecology, and other areas. Publications on the use of opioid-free anesthesia in thoracic surgery are scarce.
 OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of intravenous lidocaine infusion as a component of anesthesia in thoracic surgery.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients who underwent open lobectomy or pneumonectomy were examined. Depending on the analgesic component, patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (n=30) received intravenous infusion of lidocaine, group 2 (n=30) received epidural block, and group 3 (n=30) had fentanyl infusion. Blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, and blood serum glycemia levels were measured. The intensity of postoperative pain syndrome and the need for promedol, tramadol, and sanitation fibrobronchoscopy were assessed. Arterial hypotension and frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded. The length of stay of the patients in the intensive care unit and hospital was recorded.
 RESULTS: Cortisol levels did not differ between groups (p=0.26). The glucose level in the epidural block group was significantly lower than that in other groups (p=0.011). A significant increase in mean blood pressure and heart rate was observed in the opioid analgesia group (p 0.001). The lowest severity of pain 6 h after surgery was observed in the epidural blockade and lidocaine groups (p 0.001). Perioperative hypotension was more common in the epidural analgesia group (p=0.045). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was higher in the opioid anesthesia group (p=0.004). In the fentanyl infusion group, sanitary fibrobronchoscopy was more often required to eliminate atelectasis (p=0.039). The number of bed days spent in the ICU was significantly higher in the opioid analgesic group (p=0.002); however, no significant differences were noted between the groups regarding the number of days spent in the hospital (p=0.228).
 CONCLUSION: Opioid-free anesthesia based on intravenous lidocaine infusion, as a component of anesthetic management in thoracic surgery, provides sufficient perioperative stability of hemodynamic and neuroendocrine status, has a pronounced analgesic effect, with less opioid consumption on the first day after surgery, and helps reduce the length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital.

Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation Reduces Opioid Use and Length of Stay Without Increasing Adverse Events: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 5442 Patients Undergoing Surgical Correction of Pectus Excavatum.

To examine differences in opioid use, length of stay, and adverse events after minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) with and without intercostal nerve cryoablation. Small studies show that intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoablation provides effective analgesia with no large-scale evaluations of this technique. The pediatric health information system database was used to perform a retrospective cohort study comparing patients undergoing MIRPE at children's hospitals before and after the initiation of cryoablation. The association of cryoablation use with inpatient opioid use was determined using quantile regression with robust standard errors. Difference in risk-adjusted length of stay between the cohorts was estimated using negative binomial regression. Odds of adverse events between the two cohorts were compared using logistic regression with a generalized estimating equation. A total of 5442 patients underwent MIRPE at 44 children's hospitals between 2016 and 2022 with 1592 patients treated after cryoablation was introduced at their hospital. Cryoablation use was associated with a median decrease of 80.8 (95% CI: 68.6-93.0) total oral morphine equivalents as well as a decrease in estimated median length of stay from 3.5 [3.2-3.9] days to 2.5 [2.2-2.9] days ( P value: 0.016). Cryoablation use was not significantly associated with an increase in any studied adverse events. Introduction of cryoablation for perioperative analgesia was associated with decreased inpatient opioid use and length of stay in a large sample with no change in adverse events. This novel modality for perioperative analgesia offers a promising alternative to traditional pain management in thoracic surgery.

Erector spinae plane block versus paravertebral block for postoperative pain management in thoracic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The 2018 guidelines for enhanced recovery in thoracic surgery recommend paravertebral block (PVB) for postoperative pain management. However, recent studies demonstrate that erector spinae plane block (ESPB) achieves similar postoperative pain control with reduced block-related complications. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of ESPB versus PVB for pain management after thoracic surgery. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched through December 2022 (PROSPERO registration - CRD42023395593). Primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, resting at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours, and at movement at 24 and 48 hours. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption at 24 and 48 hours, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting or block-related complications in the first 48 hours. Ten randomized control trials enrolling a total of 624 total patients were included. There were no significant differences in pain scores, resting or at movement, at any time points except reduced resting pain scores at 12 hours with PVB (mean difference [MD]) 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32 to 0.88). Opioid consumption demonstrated no significant differences at 24 hours; PVB reduced opioid consumption at 48 hours (MD 0.40, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.89). There were no significant differences in postoperative nausea or vomiting. ESPB exhibited a nonsignificant trend toward reduced cumulative block-related complications (risk difference [RD] 0.05, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.00). Compared with PVB, ESPB is safe and demonstrates no clinically significant differences in pain management after thoracic surgery.

Perioperative pain management in thoracic surgery: A survey of practices in Australia and New Zealand.

There are few data on current trends in pain management for thoracic surgery in Australia and New Zealand. Several new regional analgesia techniques have been introduced for these operations in the past few years. Our survey aimed to assess current practice and perceptions towards various modalities of pain management for thoracic surgery among anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand. A 22-question electronic survey was developed and distributed in 2020 with the assistance of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Cardiac Thoracic Vascular and Perfusion Special Interest Group. The survey focused on four key domains-demographics, general pain management, operative technique, and postoperative approach. Of the 696 invitations, 165 complete responses were obtained, for a response rate of 24%. Most respondents reported a trend away from the historical standard of thoracic epidural analgesia, with a preference towards non-neuraxial regional analgesia techniques. If representative of anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand more widely, this trend may result in less exposure of junior anaesthetists to the insertion and management of thoracic epidurals, potentially resulting in reduced familiarity and confidence in the technique. Furthermore, it demonstrates a notable reliance on surgically or intraoperatively placed paravertebral catheters as the primary analgesic modality, and suggests the need for future studies assessing the optimal method of catheter insertion and perioperative management. It also gives some insight into the current opinion and practice of the respondents with regard to formalised enhanced recovery after surgery pathways, acute pain services, opioid-free anaesthesia, and current medication selection.

Multimodal approach to pain management in thoracic surgery

The American Cancer Society estimated that 68,820,000 men and 61,360,000 women in the United States of America would die from lung and bronchial cancer in 2022, which is equal to 21% of all cancer deaths. Patients who undergo thoracotomy have a higher risk of postoperative complications due to the severe pain syndrome that typically develops after surgery. Even though there has been extensive research on the advantages and disadvantages of various perioperative analgesia techniques, the search for the best and safest still continues.
 Objective — to improve the results of perioperative anesthesia in patients undergoing thoracotomy by choosing the optimal method of analgesia.
 Materials and methods. A total of 59 patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracotomy at the communal non‑profit enterprise «Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No 17» from 2018 to 2020 were included in an open‑label noncommercial randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the multimodal analgesia (MA) group (32 patients) and the epidural analgesia (EA) group (27 patients). According to the concept of preemptive analgesia, patients in the MA group received 1000 mg of paracetamol and 50 mg of dexketoprofen intravenously 1 hour before surgery. In the postoperative period, dexketoprofen and paracetamol were administered every 8 hours in combination with epidural analgesia. During postoperative epidural analgesia, patients received 40 mg of a 2% lidocaine solution through a catheter inserted into the epidural space (Th5—Th6) and a ropivacaine 2 mg/mL (3—14 mL/h) infusion. Patients in the EA group received only epidural analgesia in the postoperative period. After placement of an epidural catheter in the epidural space (Th5—Th6), they had an injection of 40 mg of a 2% lidocaine solution and an epidural infusion of ropivacaine 2 mg/ml (3—14 mL/h).
 Results. The study groups did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in terms of age, hight, weight, a grade of anesthesiological risk (ASA), blood loss, surgery duration, and surgical volume (р >0,05). The level of analgesia was assessed using the numerological rating scale (NRS) after 3, 6, 24, and 32 hours after surgery. Every research stage revealed a significant difference in the level of pain syndrome between the study groups (p<0.05). Patients in the EA group experienced more severe pain syndrome than those in the MA group. Consequently, 7 patients (26%) in the EA group were anesthetized with morphine 10 mg intramuscularly compared to 3 patients (9%) in the MA group.
 Conclusions. In patients undergoing thoracic surgery, a multimodal analgesic approach, which includes the use of COX‑2 and COX‑3 inhibitors in combination with epidural analgesia, has been shown to produce better analgesia compared to epidural anesthesia alone. The beneficial effect of multimodal analgesia was seen in a significant difference (p<0.05) in the intensity of pain syndrome between the study groups in the early postoperative period after thoracotomy.

Anesthesiology Management in Thoracic Surgery

呼吸器外科手術は，気管や肺という生命維持に重要な臓器を扱う手術であり，麻酔科医は，手術に伴う呼吸器系の変化に対応しながら，麻酔管理を行わなければならない．それゆえ，麻酔科医が担う役割は大きく，高度な専門技術が求められる．本稿では，呼吸器外科手術の麻酔を始める若い麻酔科医にむけて，分離肺換気や呼吸管理，鎮痛方法の選択など，麻酔管理全般に必要な知識を，自験例を交え文献報告とともに紹介する．

Prevalence of coronary calcification on preoperative computed tomography and its management in thoracic surgery

PurposeWe investigated the preoperative assessment of coronary artery calcification using computed tomography for appropriate intraoperative management to reduce the risk of perioperative cardiac complications during pulmonary resection.MethodsPatients (n = 665) who underwent anatomical lung resection were examined. The extent of preoperative asymptomatic coronary artery stenosis or cardiac complications in patients with coronary artery calcification was assessed. In addition, the risk factors for perioperative cardiac complications were determined.ResultsCoronary artery calcification was detected in 233 (35.0%) asymptomatic patients. Nineteen (8.2%) patients with coronary artery calcification had coronary artery stenosis ≥ 75%. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed preoperatively (n = 3) and postoperatively (n = 10), and preoperative drug intervention was performed in 10 cases. One case of severe postoperative cardiac complications and 20 cases of mild postoperative cardiac complications, including those without coronary artery calcification, occurred. Patients with calcified coronary arteries were at risk of cardiovascular complications in the perioperative period. However, patients with coronary artery calcification who underwent preoperative cardiology intervention had no significant perioperative cardiovascular complications.ConclusionsCoronary artery calcification detected on preoperative computed tomography is a risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular complications. Early intervention may reduce the risk of such complications.

Regional anesthesia and acute perioperative pain management in thoracic surgery: a narrative review.

Background and ObjectiveThoracic surgery causes significant pain which can negatively affect pulmonary function and increase risk of postoperative complications. Effective analgesia is important to reduce splinting and atelectasis. Systemic opioids and thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) have been used for decades and are effective at treating acute post-thoracotomy pain, although both have risks and adverse effects. The advancement of thoracoscopic surgery, a focus on multimodal and opioid-sparing analgesics, and the development of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques have greatly expanded the options for acute pain management after thoracic surgery. Despite the expansion of surgical techniques and analgesic approaches, there is no clear optimal approach to pain management. This review aims to summarize the body of literature regarding systemic and regional anesthetic techniques for thoracic surgery in both thoracotomy and minimally invasive approaches, with a goal of providing a foundation for providers to make individualized decisions for patients depending on surgical approach and patient factors, and to discuss avenues for future research.MethodsWe searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases from inception to May 2021 using the terms “thoracic surgery”, “thoracic surgery AND pain management”, “thoracic surgery AND analgesia”, “thoracic surgery AND regional anesthesia”, “thoracic surgery AND epidural”. We considered articles written in English and available to the reader.Key Content and FindingsThere is a wide variety of strategies for treating acute pain after thoracic surgery, including multimodal opioid and non-opioid systemic analgesics, regional anesthesia including TEA and paravertebral blocks (PVB), and a recent expansion in the use of novel fascial plane blocks especially for thoracoscopy. The body of literature on the effectiveness of different approaches for thoracotomy and thoracoscopy is a rapidly expanding field and area of active debate.ConclusionsThe optimal analgesic approach for thoracic surgery may depend on patient factors, surgical factors, and institutional factors. Although TEA may provide optimal analgesia after thoracotomy, PVB and emerging fascial plane blocks may offer effective alternatives. A tailored approach using multimodal systemic therapies and regional anesthesia is important, and future studies comparing techniques are necessary to further investigate the optimal approach to improve patient outcomes.

Opioid Requirements After Intercostal Cryoanalgesia in Thoracic Surgery

The optimal approach to pain management after thoracic surgery remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia and postoperative opioid requirements after thoracic surgery. We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all patients who underwent unilateral thoracic surgery for pulmonary pathology from June 2017 to August 2019. Patients receiving intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia were compared with standard analgesia. The primary outcome was total oral morphine equivalent consumption during hospitalization, at discharge, and 90 d postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included pain scores and pulmonary function measured on postoperative days 1 and 3, at discharge, and postoperative complications. Planned subgroup analysis by opioid exposure and surgical approach was performed. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test demonstrated significantly less inpatient opioid use for cryoanalgesia patients (45 versus 305mg, P<0.001), regardless of opioid history (naïve: 22.5 versus 209.8mg, P<0.001; tolerant: 159.5 versus 1043mg, P<0.001) and minimally invasive approach (opioid naïve: 26.2 versus 209.8mg, P<0.001; tolerant: 158.5 versus 1059mg, P<0.001). Opioid-naïve patients required fewer discharge opioids (50 versus 168mg; P<0.05). Cryoanalgesia lowered daily pain scores (P<0.001) and showed a trend toward lower 90-d opioid prescriptions and higher pulmonary function scores. There was no difference in postoperative complications (P=0.31). Our results suggest an association between intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia and reduced inpatient opioid requirements and pain in opioid-naïve and tolerant patients. Pulmonary function, 90-d opioid prescriptions, and adverse events were no different between groups. It may serve as a useful adjunct for opioid-sparing pain management in thoracic surgery.

Postoperative analgesia management in thoracic surgery: our two-year experience

Amaç: Toraks cerrahisi, en ağrılı cerrahi prosedürlerden biri olarak kabul görmektedir. Toraks cerrahisinden sonra gelişen ağrı; atelektazi ve pnömoni gibi solunum komplikasyonları, daha uzun hastane yatış süreleri, yaşam kalitesinin azalması ve ağrının postoperatif kronik ağrıya dönüşmesi gibi olumsuz sonuçlara neden olabilir. Toraks cerrahisi geçiren hastalarda postoperatif analjezi uygulamalarımızı ve sonuçlarını retrospektif olarak incelemeyi amaçladık.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmamız, Haziran 2019 ve Haziran 2021 tarihleri arasında toraks cerrahisi geçiren ve postoperatif analjezi takibi yapılan 563 hastaya ait verinin retrospektif olarak incelenmesi ile yapıldı. Hastalara uygulanan postoperatif analjezi yöntemi, vizüel analog skala (VAS) skorları, uygulanan ek analjezi tedavisi ve gelişen komplikasyonlar değerlendirildi.&#x0D; Bulgular: Hastaların %28,42’si kadın olup, en sık uygulanan cerrahi %64,30 oranla akciğer rezeksiyonlarıydı. Hasta kontrollü analjezi (HKA) , 458 (%81,35) hastada intravenöz, 105 (%18,65) hastada epidural yol ile uygulanmıştı. Intravenöz HKA için VAS skor ortalamaları postoperatif 1. saatte 4,1, 24. saatte 2,0 ve 48. saatte 1,2 idi. Epidural HKA için ise 1.saatte 3,9, 24.saatte 2,0 ve 48.saatte 1,4 olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Intravenöz HKA uygulanan hastalarda yan etki oranları %6,99, epidural HKA uygulanan hastalarda %37,14 olarak değerlendirilmiştir.&#x0D; Sonuç: Kliniğimizde sıklıkla malignite cerrahisi yapılmaktadır. Bu hastalarda torasik paravertebral blok (TPVB) ve intravenöz analjezi kombinasyonu ile elastomerik infüzyonla uygulanan torasik epidural analjezide benzer analjezik sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Komplikasyon oranları TPVB ve intravenöz analjezi kombinasyonu yapılan grupta daha az olmakla birlikte her iki grupta da klinik olarak kabul edilebilir sınırlarda olarak bulunmuştur. Analjezi protokollerinin ve algoritmaların klinisyenlerin deneyimi ve uygulanan cerrahi işleme göre belirlenmesinin etkin analjezi sağlayacağını düşünmekteyiz.

Should fluid management in thoracic surgery be goal directed?

To find a reliable answer to the question in the title: Should fluid management in thoracic surgery be goal directed? 'Moderate' fluid regimen is the current recommendation of fluid management in thoracic anesthesia, however, especially in more risky patients; 'Goal-Directed Therapy' (GDT) can be a more reliable approach than just 'moderate'. There are numerous studies examining its effects in general anesthesia; albeit mostly retrospective and very heterogenic. There are few studies of GDT in thoracic anesthesia with similar drawbacks. Although the evidence level is low, GDT is generally associated with fewer postoperative complications. It can be helpful in decision-making for volume-optimization, timing of fluid administration, and indication of vasoactive agents.

To tube or not to tube: a skeptic's guide to nonintubated thoracic surgery.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the rationale and evidence for nonintubated thoracic surgery and guide clinicians, considering the implementation of nonintubated thoracic surgery, to find an anesthetic approach suitable for their department. Based on physiologic considerations alone, nonintubated thoracic surgery would be expected to be an advantageous concept in thoracic anesthesia, especially in patients at high risk for pulmonary complications. Currently existing evidence, however, does not support these claims. Although the feasibility and safety have been repeatedly demonstrated, high-quality evidence showing a significant benefit regarding clinically relevant patient-centered outcomes is not available.Anesthetic approaches to nonintubated thoracic surgery differ significantly; however, they usually concentrate on six main aspects: maintenance of airway patency, respiratory support, analgesia, patient comfort, cough suppression, and conversion techniques. Given the lack of high-quality studies comparing different techniques, evidence-based guidance of clinical decision-making is currently not possible. Until further evidence is available, anesthetic management will depend mostly on local availability and expertise. In select patients and with experienced teams, nonintubated thoracic surgery can be a suitable alternative to intubated thoracic surgery. Until more evidence is available, however, a general change in anesthetic management in thoracic surgery is not justified.

Transesophageal echocardiography for perioperative management in thoracic surgery.

Perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is most often employed during cardiac surgery. This review will summarize some of the recent findings relevant to TEE utilization during thoracic surgical procedures. Hemodynamic monitoring is a key component of goal-directed fluid therapy, which is also becoming more common for management of thoracic surgical procedures. Although usually not required for the anesthetic management of common thoracic surgeries, TEE is frequently used during lung transplantation and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Few clinical studies support current practice patterns, and most recommendations are based on expert opinion. Currently, routine use of TEE in thoracic surgery is often limited to specific high-risk patients and/or procedures. As in other perioperative settings, TEE may be utilized to elucidate the reasons for acute hemodynamic instability without apparent cause. Contraindications to TEE apply and have to be taken into consideration before performing a TEE on a thoracic surgical patient.

Perioperative management in thoracic surgery

Thoracic surgery has undergone significant advances in recent years related to anesthetic and surgical techniques and the prevention and management of complications related to the procedure. This has allowed improvements in patient clinical outcomes in surgeries of this kind. Despite the above, thoracic surgery, especially related to pulmonary resection, is not without risk, and is associated to considerable morbidity and mortality. Fast track or enhanced recovery after anesthesia protocols, minimally invasive surgery, and intraoperative anesthetic management improve the prognosis and safety of thoracic surgery. Patients in the postoperative period of major thoracic surgery require intensive surveillance, especially the first 24–72h after surgery. Admission to the ICU is especially recommended in those patients with comorbidities, a reduced cardiopulmonary reserve, extensive lung resections, and those requiring support due to life-threatening organ failure. During the postoperative period, intensive cardiorespiratory monitoring, proper management of thoracic drainage, aggressive pain control (multimodal analgesia and regional anesthetic techniques), nausea and multimodal rehabilitation are key elements for avoiding adverse events. Medical complications include respiratory failure, arrhythmias, respiratory infections, atelectasis and thromboembolic lung disease. The most frequent surgical complications are hemothorax, chylothorax, bronchopleural fistula and prolonged air leakage. The multidisciplinary management of these patients throughout the perioperative period is essential in order to ensure the best surgical outcomes.

Sufentanil sublingual tablet system (Zalviso®) as an effective analgesic option after thoracic surgery: An observational study.

Introduction:Sufentanil sublingual tablet system (SSTS) (Zalviso®) is a sublingual system for patient controlled analgesia, demonstrated to be an effective strategy for pain control after major abdominal and orthopedic surgery. We present a prospective observational study on the use of SSTS for the management of postoperative pain after thoracic surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Zalviso® in reducing pain scores and increasing respiratory ability during postoperative period.Materials and Methods:There were about 40 patients underwent video assisted thoracoscopy were included in the study. All the enrolled patients signed the informed consent were educated to the use of the device. Pain numeric rating scale values (NRS) were recorded at awakening from anesthesia (T0) and during the next hours, both at rest and with cough. We evaluate the time to obtain a mean NRS value ≤3 and difference in pain scores between first and subsequent measurements as the primary outcomes. The ability to use incentive spirometer and eventual drug adverse effect were evaluated as secondary outcomes.Results:All patients in recovery room experienced moderate to severe pain. Pain score at rest and coughing decreased to a mean NRS value ≤3 (mild pain) respectively after 2 and 6 hours and the pain score difference continued to increase significantly after repeated measurements. 67.5% of patients resumed the original spirometric ability in pod 1; 9.5% in pod 2; 12% in pod 3. Only three patients out of forty (7,5%) experienced nausea; one patient (2,5%) had a vomiting episode.Conclusion:Our study showed SSTS as an effective option for postoperative pain management in thoracic surgery, improving pain scores and respiratory ability.

Review of difficult airway management in thoracic surgery

The management of difficult airway (DA) in thoracic surgery is more difficult due to the need for lung separation or isolation and frequent presence of associated upper and lower airway problems. We performed an article review analysing 818 papers published with clinical evidence indexed in Pubmed that allowed us to develop an algorithm. The best airway management in predicted DA is tracheal intubation and independent bronchial blockers guided by fibroscopy maintaining spontaneous ventilation. For unpredicted DA, the use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended initially, and adequate neuromuscular relaxation (rocuronium/sugammadex), among other maneuvers. In both cases, double lumen tubes should be reserved for when lung separation is absolutely indicated. Finally, extubation should be a time of maximum care and be performed according to the safety measures of the Difficult Arway Society.

Unusual airways management during one-lung ventilation in thoracic surgery

Airways management in thoracic surgery is usually more difficult than in other surgery. We reported a case of a patient who underwent surgery of evacuation of empyema where after a correct insertion of a left double-lumen tube 37 Fr (DLT), one-lung ventilation was not permitted by the high airways pressure. In fact, the hole of bronchial tip was just against the left bronchial wall retracted probably from inflammatory process. We introduced blindly an Arndt blocker 9 Fr inside the tracheal lumen of DLT until the orifice of the right upper lobe bronchus, the distance was checked before. After the positioning of the blocker, the DLT was pulled up to above the carina, and the single-lung ventilation was permitted. Sometimes, an unusual use of different devices permits to manage complications. In fact, in this case, the Arndt bronchial blocker helps us to solve an important ventilatory problem.

Actual respiratory technologies in thoracic surgery: traditional problems and innovative solutions

The problem of efficient gas exchange maintenance is always actual in anesthetic management of thoracic surgery and determines the selection of appropriate method of anesthesia. The article presents an experience of anesthesia during operations on lungs, trachea, bronchi and mediastinal structures performed from 1963 to 2015. Current concept of safety and efficacy of anesthetic management in thoracic surgery is presented. The role of actual current respiratory technologies and methods of anesthesia per se to maximize the efficiency of gas exchange in all stages of thoracicsurgery is emphasized. Absolute coherence of anesthesiologist and surgeon based on correct interaction is the most important condition of successful surgery. Effectiveness of special respiratory technologies for thoracic surgery associated with one-lung ventilation and prolonged wide dissection of airways is described. The research results and pathophysiological rationale for the use of special respiratory technologies including different variants of differentiated independent lung ventilation especially important for patients with concomitant cardiorespiratory pathology are presented. We reported experience of effective gas exchange maintenance in reconstructive surgery of trachea and main bronchi including traditional mechanical ventilation with "shunt-breath" system, use of jet high-frequency ventilation and relatively new respiratory technology such as flow apnoeic oxygenation.

Efficacy and safety of human fibrinogen–thrombin patch (TachoSil®) in the treatment of postoperative air leakage in patients submitted to redo surgery for lung malignancies: a randomized trial

Previous studies of the human fibrinogen-thrombin patch TachoSil® for air leak management in thoracic surgery have excluded patients undergoing redo surgery, a group at high risk of persistent air leaks. This is the first study to assess TachoSil® in patients undergoing redo surgery. Patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer or lung metastasis and were scheduled for completion lobectomy plus lymphadenectomy due to tumour recurrence were eligible. After complete lobectomy, patients with intraoperative Macchiarini grade 3 air leaks (or >30% of the tidal volume at plethysmographic assessment) were randomized to receive either TachoSil® or further lung parenchymal stapling/suturing procedures according to standard surgical practice. A total of 24 patients were randomized to TachoSil® (n = 13) or standard treatment (n = 11). Mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the TachoSil® group than in the standard group (3.6 vs 4.0 h; P = 0.023). The mean duration of air leaks was also significantly reduced in the TachoSil® group (4.7 vs 10.0 days; P < 0.001), and the removal of both the first and the second chest tubes occurred earlier (mean 3.8 vs 5.5 days; P = 0.005; and 6.1 vs 10.8 days; P < 0.001, respectively). TachoSil® was also effective in reducing persistent (≥ 9 days) air leaks (1 vs 7 patients; P = 0.008). There were no significant differences between groups in other postoperative complications. Mean length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in TachoSil®-treated patients (6.9 vs 9.5 days; P < 0.001). TachoSil® was superior to standard stapling and suturing aerostatic techniques in reducing postoperative air leaks in patients undergoing redo thoracic surgery.