Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery Flashcards
What are some possible preoperative symptoms associated with thoracic surgery?
Coughing/wheezing Hemoptysis Weight loss (advanced cancer) Dyspnea Pleuritic chest pain (problem spread to pleura) Horner syndrome Hoarseness (RLN Damage)
What is Horner’s syndrome?
Also known as oculocephalic palsy it is the combination of ptosis, meiosis and anhydrosis on the ipsilateral side.
Ptosis = drooping eyelid
Meiosis = pupil construction
Anhydrosis = lack of sweating
What are some preoperative tests that may provide important information for patients undergoing thoracic surgery?
PFTs
Radiologic imaging
Cardiac assessment
Baseline ABG on RA
If a patient appears for thoracic surgery that has a Cushing’s appearance they may also have what syndrome?
Paraneoplastic syndrome
-Hormonal or other secretions from a tumor
What is the difference between resectability and operability?
Resectability refers to the tumor stage.
Operability refers to the patient’s health
Most thoracic surgical procedures are done under what type of anesthetic?
General
Why is positioning particularly important for patients undergoing thoracic procedures?
Surgical access
Ease of ventilation (VQ Mismatch)
Potential for pneumothorax
Possibility of nerve damage
What is VATS?
Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery
How does ventilation change between and anesthetized and the awake patient in the lateral decubitus position?
In the awake (spontaneous ventilation) patient VQ matching is normal
In the anesthetized patient VQ mismatching occurs at the upper lung is ventilated more and the lower lung is less compliant
When the chest cavity is open what happens to pleural pressure?
Normal negative pleural pressure is lost and the lung will normally collapse
Spontaneous ventilation with an open pneumothorax in the lateral position results in what two negative phenomena?
Mediastinal shift
Paradoxical respirations
How can we overcome mediastinal shift and paradoxical respiration?
By positive pressure ventilation during general anesthesia and thoracotomy
Paradoxical respirations and mediastinal shift can cause what to progressive problems?
Hypoxemia and hypercapnia
Intentional collapse of the lung on the operative side facilitates most thoracic procedures, but greatly complicates anesthetic management. Why?
When the collapsed lung continues to be perfused and is deliberately no longer ventilated the patient can develop a large right to left intrapulmonary shunt
What effect does one lung ventilation have on the alveolar to arterial oxygen gradient?
What is the end result?
It widens the alveolar to arterial oxygen gradient which often results in hypoxemia
How is this alveolar to arterial gradient difference overcome naturally by the body?
Blood flow to the non-ventilated lung is decreased by Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV)
What factors are known to inhibit HPV and thus worsen the right to left shunt?
Hypocapnia Vasodilators & Ca2+ Channel Blockers Inhalational anesthetics PEEP High PVR (Pulmonary infection) Hypothermia Extremes of mixed venous PO2 Extremes of PA pressures
What would a decrease in blood flow to the ventilated lung cause?
It would counteract the effect of HPV by indirectly increasing blood flow to the collapsed lung
What factors could possibly decrease blood flow to the ventilated lung?
- High mean airway pressures due to increased PEEP
- Low FiO2
- Vasoconstrictors (greater effect on normoxic than hypoxic vessels)
- Intrinsic PEEP that develops due to inadequate expiratory times.
What is the “3-legged stool?”
A pre-thoracotomy respiratory assessment that includes:
- Respiratory mechanics
- Cardiopulmonary reserve
- Long parenchymal function
When assessing respiratory mechanics the general cut off for success is a PPO greater than what percent?
PPO > 40%
What is a normal PPO?
80 to 100% predicted
What is FEV1?
Forced expiratory volume (1 sec)
What is the difference between volume and capacity?
Volume = directly measured Capacity = Some of 2+ volumes
What are some absolute indications for one lung ventilation?
- Contamination
- Control of distribution of ventilation
- Airway fistula
- Need for differential ventilation - Bronchoalveolar lavage
What are some relative indications for one lung ventilation?
Thoracic aneurysm Pneumonectomy Upper lobe procedures Thoracoscopic surgery (usually requires) Esophagectomy (Iver Louis) Other lung resections Transplant (Bilateral vs single)
How can one lung ventilation lead to hypoxemia?
Hypoventilation Shunt Diffusion Inadequate FiO2 VQ mismatch Anemia
What can we do to manage hypoxemia with one lung ventilation?
- Maintain minute ventilation
- Decreased tidal volume
- Increased respiratory rate - CPAP to non-ventilated lung
- PEEP to ventilated lung (avoid auto-PEEP)
Extreme: Have surgeon clamp pulmonary artery or reinstate two lung ventilation
In general, thoracic procedures are better tolerated on which side?
Left sided procedures because the right lung is bigger
What are three techniques used to facilitate one lung ventilation?
- Double lumen bronchial tube (R vs L)
- Use of a single lumen tracheal tube with a bronchial blocker
- Endobronchial intubation with a single lumen tube
Sizing of double lumen tubes depends on what?
Patient’s height
What are some advantages to double lumen tubes?
Relative ease of use
Ability to suction the non-ventilated lung
Ability to reposition
Ability to use CPAP