Non-intubated Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery Research Articles

Outcomes of Non-intubated Versus Intubated Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (N-VATS) and intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (I-VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). We retrospectively analyzed 120 consecutive patients who underwent VATS for PSP. The patients were divided into N-VATS and I-VATS groups. Demographics, clinical characteristics, postoperative results, pain scores, follow-up results, and management were evaluated and compared between the groups. Local anesthesia and deep sedation (ketamine 2mg/kg IV and propofol 2mg/kg IV slow infusion) were administered under spontaneous ventilation in the N-VATS group. The groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology score, pneumothorax side, or smoking history ( P >0.05). The mean operation time, anesthesia time, oral intake opening time, and mobilization time were significantly shorter in the N-VATS group (26.04±4.61 vs. 48.26±7.82min, 42.14±6.40 vs. 98.16±12.4min, 2.1±0.4 vs. 8.4±1.2h, and 4.2±0.9 vs. 2.6±1.4 between N-VATS and I-VATS, respectively; P <0.05). The surgical outcomes did not differ in terms of minor complications (12%-13%) and recurrence rates (5.1%-6.4%) during a mean follow-up period of 88.4±10.2mo. No cases of conversion to open surgery or mortality were observed. General anesthesia and intubation were not required for any patient in the N-VATS group. Our results revealed no differences in minor complications or recurrence rates between groups. However, the N-VATS group had significantly shorter operation, anesthesia, oral intake opening, and mobilization times. The most important advantage of N-VATS for PSP is its fast recovery while avoiding the risks of general anesthesia and intubation. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.

The Year in Thoracic Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2022

This article reviews research highlights in the field of thoracic anesthesia. The highlights of this year included new developments in the preoperative assessment and prehabilitation of patients requiring thoracic surgery, updates on the use of devices for one-lung ventilation (OLV) in adults and children, updates on the anesthetic and postoperative management of these patients, including protective OLV ventilation, the use of opioid-sparing techniques and regional anesthesia, and outcomes using enhanced recovery after surgery, as well as the use of expanding indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, specialized anesthetic techniques for airway surgery, and nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Efficacy of intraoperative thoracoscopic intercostal nerve blocks in nonintubated and intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery: A randomized study

The efficacy of thoracoscopic intercostal nerve blocks (TINBs) for noxious stimulation from video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) remains unclear. The efficacy of TINBs may also be different between nonintubated VATS (NIVATS) and intubated VATS (IVATS). We aim to compare the efficacy of TINBs on analgesia and sedation for NIVATS and IVATs intraoperatively. Sixty patients randomized to the NIVATS or IVATS group (30 each) received target-controlled propofol and remifentanil infusions, with bispectral index (BIS) maintained at 40-60, and multilevel (T3-T8) TINBs before surgical manipulations. Intraoperative monitoring data, including pulse oximetry, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, BIS, density spectral arrays (DSAs), and propofol and remifentanil effect-site concentration (Ce) at different time points. A two way ANOVA with post hoc analysis was applied to analyze the differences and interactions of groups and time points. In both groups, DSA monitoring revealed burst suppression and α dropout immediately after the TINBs. The Ce of the propofol infusion had to be reduced within 5min post-TINBs in both NIVATS (p<0.001) and IVATS (p=0.252) groups. The Ce of remifentanil infusion was significantly reduced after TINBs in both groups (p<0.001), and was significantly lower in NIVATS (p<0.001) without group interactions. The surgeon-performed intraoperative multilevel TINBs allow reduced anesthetic and analgesic requirement for VATS. With lower requirement of remifentanil infusion, NIVATS presents a significantly higher risk of hypotension after TINBs. DSA is beneficial for providing real-time data that facilitate the preemptive management, especially for NIVATS.

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Double-lumen intubation under general anesthesia is currently the most commonly performed intubation technique for pneumonectomy, wedge resection of the lung, and lobectomy. However, there is a high incidence of pulmonary complications arising from general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. Non-intubation with the preservation of voluntary breathing is an alternative to anesthesia. Non-intubation procedures minimize the adverse effects of tracheal intubation and general anesthesia, such as intubation-related airway trauma, ventilation-induced lung injury, residual neuromuscular blockade, and post-operative nausea and vomiting. However, the steps for non-intubation procedures are not detailed in many studies. Here, we present a concise non-intubated protocol for the performance of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with preserved autonomic breathing. This article identifies the conditions necessary to convert from non-intubated to intubated anesthesia and also discusses the advantages and limitations of non-intubated anesthesia. In this work, this intervention was performed on 58 patients. In addition, the results of a retrospective study are presented. Compared with intubated general anesthesia, patients in the non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery group had lower rates of post-operative pulmonary complications, shorter operative times, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter PACU stays, a lower number of days to chest drain removal, less post-operative drainage, and shorter hospital stays.

Opioid-sparing anesthesia with dexmedetomidine provides stable hemodynamic and short hospital stay in non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a propensity score matching cohort study

ObjectivesDexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist with anti-anxiety, sedative, and analgesic effects and causes a lesser degree of respiratory depression. We hypothesized that the use of dexmedetomidine in non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) may reduce opioid-related complications such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), dyspnea, constipation, dizziness, skin itching, and cause minimal respiratory depression, and stable hemodynamic status.MethodsPatients who underwent non-intubated VATS lung wedge resection with propofol combined with dexmedetomidine (group D) or alfentanil (group O) between December 2016 and May 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective propensity score matching cohort study. Intraoperative vital signs, arterial blood gas data, perioperative results and treatment outcomes were analyzed.Of 100 patients included in the study (group D, 50 and group O, 50 patients), group D had a significantly lower degree of decrement in the heart rate and the blood pressure than group O. Intraoperative one-lung arterial blood gas revealed lower pH and significant ETCO2. The common opioid-related side effects, including PONV, dyspnea, constipation, dizziness, and skin itching, all of which occurred more frequently in group O than in group D. Patients in group O had significantly longer postoperative hospital stay and total hospital stay than group D, which might be due to opioid-related side effects postoperatively.ConclusionsThe application of dexmedetomidine in non-intubated VATS resulted in a significant reduction in perioperative opioid-related complications and maintenance with acceptable hemodynamic performance. These clinical outcomes found in our retrospective study may enhance patient satisfaction and shorten the hospital stay.

Erector spine plane block as single loco-regional anesthesia in non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery for unfit patients: a case-match study.

In the present study, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopy (NI-VATS) for the diagnosis and palliation of malignant pleural effusion in the elderly population using erector-spinae plane block (ESPB) as single loco-regional anesthesia. From January 2016 to December 2020 a consecutive series of 158 patients who underwent surgery for malignant pleural effusion was analyzed. Of these, 20 patients were operated using ESPB NI-VATS, while 138 were operated under general anesthesia (GA). After propensity score matching, the NI-VATS population was older (81 vs. 76years p 0.006), and had more severe pre-existing comorbidities, evaluated using Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.029) and ASA score (p < 0.001). GA and NI-VATS patients did not differ in terms of postoperative opioid consumption, complication rate and postoperative hospitalization. Both short- and long-term efficacy of talc poudrage was equal in the two populations. The overall length of stay in the operative room was significantly shorter for the NI-VATS than for the GA-VATS group (67.5 vs. 105min, p < 0.001), and operative time significantly differed in the two groups (35 vs. 47.5min, respectively, p < 0.001). ESPB NI-VATS can be a safe and effective option for the diagnosis and palliation of malignant pleural effusion for elderly and frail patients.

Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring More Accurately Detects Hypercapnia than End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring during Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO2) monitoring is known to be effective at estimating the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in patients with sedation-induced respiratory depression. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of PtcCO2 monitoring to measure PaCO2 and its sensitivity to detect hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 60 mmHg) compared to nasal end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) monitoring during non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This retrospective study included patients undergoing non-intubated VATS from December 2019 to May 2021. Datasets of PetCO2, PtcCO2, and PaCO2 measured simultaneously were extracted from patient records. Overall, 111 datasets of CO2 monitoring during one-lung ventilation (OLV) were collected from 43 patients. PtcCO2 had higher sensitivity and predictive power for hypercapnia during OLV than PetCO2 (84.6% vs. 15.4%, p < 0.001; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; 0.912 vs. 0.776, p = 0.002). Moreover, PtcCO2 was more in agreement with PaCO2 than PetCO2, indicated by a lower bias (bias ± standard deviation; -1.6 ± 6.5 mmHg vs. 14.3 ± 8.4 mmHg, p < 0.001) and narrower limit of agreement (-14.3-11.2 mmHg vs. -2.2-30.7 mmHg). These results suggest that concurrent PtcCO2 monitoring allows anesthesiologists to provide safer respiratory management for patients undergoing non-intubated VATS.

Comparisons on the intraoperative desaturation and postoperative outcomes in non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery with supraglottic airway devices or high-flow nasal oxygen: A retrospective study

BackgroundFew studies have compared intraoperative oxygenation and perioperative outcomes between non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) with supraglottic airway devices (SADs) and NIVATS with high flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO). The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the intraoperative desaturation rate and postoperative outcomes between NIVATS with SADs and NIVATS with HFNO. MethodsData regarding NIVATS performed for lung cancer from January 2020 to December 2021 were collected. Intraoperative anesthetic results, post-anesthetic adverse effects, and surgical outcomes for patients who received SAD or HFNO were analyzed using propensity score-matched and unmatched analysis. ResultsIn total, 199 patients with i-gel™ and 95 patients with HFNO were included. Significantly more female patients (91.6 vs. 82.4%, p = 0.0378) and fewer wedge resections (78.9 vs. 85.4%, p = 0.0258) were observed in the HFNO group. Among 250 patients who underwent NIVATS wedge resections under total intravenous anesthesia, those who received HFNO had a significantly higher desaturation event rate (19.8% vs. 7.9% in i-gel™ group; p = 0.0063), lower nadir SPO2 (94.0% vs. 96.1% in i-gel™ group; p = 0.0012), and longer hospitalization (4.0 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 0.6 in i-gel™ group; p < 0.0001). However, propensity score matching analysis revealed no significant between-group difference in the desaturation rate. A log-rank test revealed that smoking (p = 0.0005) and HFNO (p = 0.0074) were associated with intraoperative desaturation. ConclusionThe rate of SAD use in NIVATS was twice the rate of HFNO use, especially for wedge resections. There is uncertain airway patency and limited flow through HFNO during one-lung ventilation, whereas SADs like i-gel™ presented a significantly less intraoperative desaturation rate over time and similar postoperative outcomes.

The Year in Thoracic Anesthesia: Selected Highlights From 2021

THIS SPECIAL ARTICLE is the fifth in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors would like to thank the editor-in-chief, Dr. Kaplan; the associate editor-in-chief, Dr. Augoustides; and the editorial board for the opportunity to expand this series, the research highlights of the year that specifically pertain to the specialty of thoracic anesthesia. The highlights of this year include new developments in the preoperative assessment and prehabilitation of thoracic surgery patients, updates on the use of devices for one-lung ventilation (OLV) in adults and children, updates on the anesthetic management of these patients, including protective ventilation, regional anesthesia, and outcomes when enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery protocols are followed, as well as the use of expanding indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS).

Non-Intubated Thoracic Surgery: Standpoints and Perspectives.

Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-VATS) combines the advantages of a non-intubated surgery with the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. First, NI-VATS is performed in the case of fragile patients when general anesthesia and/or orotracheal intubation can be foreseen as inconvenient. However, NI-VATS indications have been increasingly extended to different patient conditions, considering the increasingly assessed safety and feasibility of the procedure. Currently, the NI-VATS approach is used worldwide for different thoracic surgery procedures, including the management of malignant pleural effusion, surgical treatment of empyema, anatomical and non-anatomical lung resection, and other indications. In fact, this approach has shown to be less impactful than VATS under general anesthesia, allowing for shortened hospitalization and faster recovery after surgery. Besides, NI-VATS is associated with fewer pulmonary complications, less respiratory distress, and a mild systemic inflammatory reaction. For these reasons, this approach should be considered not only in patients with poor cardiac or respiratory function (general functional reserve), but also in other eligible conditions.We explored the anesthetic and surgical aspects of such an approach, including the management of analgesia, cough reflex, depth of sedation, and intraoperative technical issues to put this approach in perspective.

Anaesthetic Management of Non-intubated Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery

Non-intubated thoracic surgery is currently gaining popularity. In select patients and in experienced centres, non-intubated approaches may enable patients to safely undergo thoracic surgical procedures, who would otherwise be considered at high risk from general anaesthesia. While non-intubated techniques have been widely adopted for minor surgical procedures, its role in major thoracic surgery is a topic of controversial debate.This article discusses disadvantages of intubated anaesthetic approaches and advantages of non-intubated thoracic surgery as well as the anaesthetic management. This includes surgical and anaesthetic criteria for patient selection, suitable regional anaesthetic techniques, concepts for sedation and maintenance of airway patency as well as the management of perioperative complications.Non-intubated thoracic surgery has the potential to reduce postoperative morbidity and hospital length of stay. Successful non-intubated management depends on a standardised and well-trained interdisciplinary approach, especially regarding patient selection and perioperative complications.

Effects of Non-intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery on Patients With Pulmonary Dysfunction.

Background: Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) can be safely performed in lung volume reduction surgery for patients with severe pulmonary dysfunction. However, there is still no cohort observation on the effects of NIVATS on patients with pulmonary dysfunction undergoing different types of thoracic procedures. This retrospective study aimed to observe the effects of NIVATS for this kind of patients.Methods: Three hundred and twenty-eight patients with moderate to severe obstructive pulmonary dysfunction, who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), were retrospectively collected from June 1st, 2017 to September 30th, 2019. Patients in NIVATS were case-matched with those in intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (IVATS) by a propensity score-matched analysis. The primary outcome was the comparison of perioperative values, the secondary outcome was the risk factors for postoperative clinical complications (PCP) which were identified by binary logistic regression analysis.Results: After being matched, there were no differences in demographics and preoperative values of pulmonary function between NIVATS and IVATS groups. The duration of surgery and anesthesia had no difference (P = 0.091 and P = 0.467). As for the postoperative recovery, except for the mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay was longer in the IVATS group than in the NIVATS group (P = 0.015), the chest tube removal time and the postoperative hospital stay had no difference (P = 0.394 and P = 0.453), and the incidence of PCP also had no difference (P = 0.121). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the history of pulmonary disease, anesthesia method, and surgical location were risk factors of PCP.Conclusion: For patients with pulmonary dysfunction when undergoing different types of thoracic procedures, the NIVATS can be performed as effectively and safely as the IVATS, and can reduce the ICU stay.

An air-locking port and high-flow nasal cannula in non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for pneumothorax with pulmonary dysfunction: a case report

BackgroundNon-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery is a therapeutic option for intractable secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in patients who are poor candidates for surgery with endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia. However, intraoperative respiratory management in this surgery is often challenging because of hypoxia caused by surgical pneumothorax.Case presentationA 75-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who had been on home oxygen therapy underwent non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for intractable spontaneous pneumothorax. During the operation, oxygen was administered using a high-flow nasal cannula at a high flow rate. An air-locking port for single-incision surgery was used to minimize the inflow of air into the pleural cavity. The intrapleural air was continuously suctioned through the chest tube. The air-leak point was easily identified and closed using ligation. Oxygenation was satisfactory throughout the operation.ConclusionsNon-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax with an air-locking port, continuous pleural suction, and high-flow nasal cannula may achieve satisfactory intraoperative oxygenation in patients with respiratory dysfunction. The intrapleural space can be feasible for surgical manipulation without surgical pneumothorax in non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery even when supplied with oxygen at a high flow rate using a high-flow nasal cannula.

Narrative review of non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (Ni-VATS) for lung cancer: a focus on lobectomy

Narrative review of non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (Ni-VATS) for lung cancer: a focus on lobectomy

Thoracoscopy for Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the treatment of choice for recurrence prevention in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Although the optimal surgical technique is uncertain, bullous resection using staplers in combination with mechanical pleurodesis, chemical pleurodesis and/or staple line coverage is usually undertaken. Currently, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain and other perioperative parameters have significantly improved with advancements in thoracoscopic technology, which include uniportal, needlescopic and nonintubated VATS variants. Ipsilateral recurrences after VATS occur in less than 5% of patients, in which case a redo-VATS is a feasible therapeutical option. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to shed light on the best definitive management of SP.

The Anesthetic Management of Patients Undergoing Nonintubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery.

Purpose of ReviewThis review focuses on describing the procedural and anesthetic management of patients undergoing nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery.Recent FindingsMost thoracic surgery is performed under general endotracheal anesthesia with either a double lumen endotracheal tube or a bronchial blocker. In an attempt to lessen the incidence and severity of postoperative complications, the nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopic technique was developed, where the surgical procedure is performed under regional anesthesia with sedation. Currently, this technique is recommended for the elderly and in patients with severe cardiopulmonary disease who are at increased risk of complications after general anesthesia. It is the role of the anesthesia team to assist in the decisions whether the patient is a candidate and which block should be performed and to carefully monitor these patients in the operating room.SummaryNonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery is an emerging technique with the goal of reducing postoperative complications. The anesthetic technique is highly variable and ranges from general anesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway with a truncal block to thoracic epidural anesthesia with minimal to no block. It is important to have excellent communication with the surgical team and the patient to ensure a safe, successful procedure.

Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery for subxiphoid anterior mediastinal tumor resection

BackgroundSubxiphoid approach for mediastinal tumor resection was reported to provide a better view and less postoperative pain. Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NI-VATS) without muscle relaxant would decrease the possibility of postoperative airway collapse for anterior mediastinal mass operation. Herein, we sought to describe the use of NI-VATS through subxiphoid approach for anterior mediastinal tumor resection.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, patients that underwent subxiphoid VATS resection for anterior mediastinal tumor between December 2015 and September 2019 were divided into two groups: NI-VATS and intubated VATS (I-VATS). Intraoperative and postoperative variables were compared.ResultsA total of 40 patients were included. Among them, 21 patients received NI-VATS (52.5%) and 19 were treated with I-VATS (47.5%). In total, intraoperative (4/21 vs. 2/19; P=0.446) and postoperative complications (5/21 vs. 7/19; P=0.369) were similar between NI-VATS and I-VATS group. The anesthesia time (231.76 vs. 244.71 min; P=0.218), the operation time (152.35 vs. 143.64 min; P=0.980), chest tube duration (1.81 vs. 1.84 days; P=0.08), the total volume (351.95 vs. 348.00 mL; P=0.223), post-operative pain scores (2.79 vs. 2.93, P=0.413), and the length of stay (9.47 vs. 10.57 days; P=0.970) were all comparable between two groups.ConclusionsNI-VATS for mediastinal tumor resection via subxiphoid approach is a safe and technically feasible option in selected patients, which leads to comparable perioperative clinical outcomes when compared with I-VATS via the subxiphoid approach. This technique could be used as an alteration when intubation is not available.

A comparison of non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery with spontaneous ventilation and intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery: a meta-analysis based on 14 randomized controlled trials.

BackgroundVideo-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) generally involves endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia. However, inevitably, this may cause intubation-related complications and prolong the postoperative recovery process. Gradually, non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) is increasingly being utilized. However, its safety and efficacy remain controversial.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to August 2020 were selected from the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases and included in this study according to the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers screened these RCTs and independently extracted the relevant data. After assessing the risk of bias in these RCTs, a meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3. Pooled data were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model.ResultsMeta-analysis data demonstrated that the mean difference (MD) in the length of hospital stay between non-intubated patients and intubated patients was −1.41 days, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of −2.47 to −0.34 (P=0.01). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score between the two groups showed a MD of −0.34 (95% CI: −0.58 to −0.10; P=0.006). Patients who underwent NIVATS presented with lower rates of overall complications [odds ratio (OR) 0.41; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.67; P=0.0004], air leak (OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.87; P=0.02), pharyngeal discomfort (OR 0.08; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.17; P<0.00001), hoarseness (OR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.21; P<0.00001), and gastrointestinal reactions (OR 0.23; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.53; P=0.0005) compared to intubated patients. The anesthesia satisfaction scores in the NIVATS group were significantly higher than those of the VATS group (MD 0.50; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.88; P=0.009). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the length of operation time (MD 0.90 hours; 95% CI: −0.23 to 2.03; P=0.12) and surgical field satisfaction (1 point) (OR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.59; P=0.43) between the two groups.ConclusionsNIVATS is a safe and feasible form of intervention that can reduce the postoperative pain and complications of various systems and shorten hospital stay duration without prolonging the operation time.

Risk Factors for the Development of Intraoperative Hypoxia in Patients Undergoing Nonintubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Study from a Single Center.

BackgroundNonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in patients. However, the risk factors for intraoperative hypoxia are unclear. This retrospective study aimed to identify the risk factors for the development of intraoperative hypoxia in patients undergoing NIVATS.Material/MethodsThe study included patients who underwent NIVATS between January 2011 and December 2018. Intraoperative hypoxia was defined as SpO2 ≤93%. Risk factors for hypoxia were identified by binary logistic regression analysis, and the characteristic distribution of patients with and without hypoxia was elaborated.ResultsOf 2742 included patients, age, anesthesia method, the technical level of surgeons, stair-climbing ability, and type of thoracic procedure were associated with intraoperative hypoxia (P<0.05). The characteristics of patients with hypoxia were older age (P=0.011), higher body mass index and revised cardiac risk index level (P=0.033 and P=0.031), and lower composition of stair-climbing ≥22 m (P<0.001). These patients also had more anatomical lung surgery and mediastinal mass resection (P=0.033) and more epidural anesthesia (P=0.005). The surgeries were more likely to be performed by surgeons with less than 10 years of VATS training (P=0.009) and to have increased intraoperative maximum end-expiratory carbon dioxide partial pressure (P<0.001). These patients had a longer Intensive Care Unit stay (P<0.001), duration of chest-tube drainage (P=0.019), and postoperative hospitalization (P=0.003).ConclusionsThe current study suggests that old age and stair-climbing ability of patients, anesthesia method, thoracic procedures, and surgeon experience are risk factors for intraoperative hypoxia in patients undergoing NIVATS.

Real-Time Pleural Elastography: Potential Usefulness in Nonintubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery.

Pleural adhesions are a major challenge in standard and nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery. The currently available imaging techniques help to assess the presence and extent of pleural adhesions, but do not provide information on tissue deformability, which is crucial for intraoperative management. In this report, we describe the utilization of real-time elastography mapping of pleural adhesions. This technique enabled us to detect areas with softer adhesions, and helped establish the surgical plan in a difficult case of a patient scheduled for nonintubated video-assisted thoracic surgery.