Decrease in Arterial Oxygen Partial Pressure by Pleural Opening in Thoracotomy during One-Lung Ventilation

Kim, Tae Hee; Sin, Jin Woo; Jung, Yong Bo; Park, So Jin; Choi, In Cheol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: One-lung ventilation (OLV) is commonly used in the majority of thoracotomies and thoracoscopic surgeries. During OLV, a decrease in partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) occurs due to the right-to-left transpulmonary shunt that develops in the non-dependent lung, and is aggravated just after pleural opening. Here, we examined the occurrence, cause, and means of preventing drops in PaO2 caused by pleural opening.
METHODS
Seventy patients, ASA PS I or II, who were scheduled for elective thoracotomy or thoracoscopic surgery, were prospectively examined. After OLV, patients were randomly allocated to one of four groups. In the Control group (n = 10), pleurae were not opened during studies. In the Open group (n = 20), pleurae were opened with the plug of the double-lumen endobronchial tube of the non-dependent lung opened. In the Closure group (n = 20), the plug was closed just before pleural opening. And in the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) group (n = 20), pleurae were opened after applying 5 cmH2O CPAP of medical air to the non-dependent lung. Arterial blood gas analyses, hemodynamics, end-tidal CO2, peak inspiratory airway pressure, lung compliance, and airway resistance were recorded 15 min after two-lung ventilation, 20 min after transition to OLV, just before pleural opening, and 1, 3, and 20 min after pleural opening. In the control group, data were recorded 15 min after two-lung ventilation and in seven intervals after transition to OLV (1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 45 min).
RESULTS
A significant decrease in PaO2 was detected just after pleural opening in the Open and Closure groups. PaO2 decreased in the Open group more than in the Closure group. However, in the CPAP group, no significant PaO2 reduction was detected after pleural opening.
CONCLUSIONS
We found that PaO2 decreased when pleurae were opened during OLV. This may be due to the sudden development of atelectasis in the non-dependent lung by exposure to atmospheric pressure. This decrease in PaO2 can be relieved by closing the double-lumen endobronchial tube's plug of the non-dependent lung or by applying CPAP to the non-dependent lung when pleurae are opened.