Insufflation pressure required for thoracoscopic surgery and its influence on respiratory and cardiovascular parameters

Thoracoscopy is usually performed with one lung ventilation using a double lumen endotracheal tube. These surgeries also can be performed with a single lumen tube and double lung ventilation and the use of a capnothorax to cause a partial lung collapse. Lung collapse and capnothorax can cause adverse respiratory and cardio-vascular effects. Therefore the insufflation pressure needs to be safe and minimum.

Our study was to record respiratory, haemodynamic parameters and the insufflation pressure of the capnothorax created during thoracoscopy procedures.

With an insufflation pressure of 6-8mmHg an adequate lung collapse can be obtained for thoracoscopy. This pressure did not have any adverse respiratory or cardio vascular effects.

DOI: http://dx,doi.org/10.4038/slja.v22i2.6900