Single-lung ventilation with bronchofibroscopy during lung resection surgery

Lung isolation using one-lung ventilation is common during thoracic surgery procedures, as it allows proper visualisation and manipulation of the lung to be operated on. Selective lobar blockade has been described in patients that do not tolerate one-lung ventilation, and is usually achieved using endobronchial blockers. However, it depends on endobronchial blocker availability, its complexity regarding proper positioning, and the need for constant monitoring to ensure the correct placement of the bronchial seal. In the clinical case to be described, a new method was used to increase the available surface for oxygen exchange. This was accomplished by means of direct supply of oxygen through the bronchoscope's working channel to one of the not-to-be operated-on, non-ventilated lung lobes. With this technique, the surgeon had an optimal operating field, oxygenation from one-lung ventilation improved and no perioperative complications were found.

Lung isolation in patients with previous lung resections: Selective sequential lobar blockade using a Fuji Uniblocker® endobronchial blocker

Lung isolation is essential during thoracic surgery, as it allows the thoracic surgeon to visualise and work in the surgical field. The occurrence of hypoxaemia during lung isolation is common, and is even more so in patients with decreased pulmonary functional reserve. The clinical cases are presented of 2 patients with a history of left pulmonary resections (1st left lower lobectomy, 2nd left lower lobectomy and left upper lobe segmentectomy), in which sequential selective lobar blockade was performed with Fuji Uniblocker^® endobronchial blocker for performing right lung atypical resections (right upper lobe, middle lobe, and right lower lobe). In our experience the technique was successful, the surgical field was optimal and no intra- or post-operative complications were found. This technique may be an alternative to traditional lung isolation in patients with compromised respiratory function (low functional reserve or previous contralateral lung resections).

A novel combination of the Arndt endobronchial blocker and the laryngeal mask airway ProSeal™ provides one-lung ventilation for thoracic surgery

In this study, the feasibility and performance of the combination of the Arndt endobronchial blocker and the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ProSeal™ in airway establishment, ventilation, oxygenation and lung isolation was evaluated. Fifty-five patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective thoracic surgeries were randomly allocated to group Arndt (n=26) or group double-lumen tube (DLT; n=29). Data concerning post-operative airway morbidity, ease of insertion, hemodynamics, lung collapse, ventilators, oxygenation and ventilation were collected for analysis. Compared with group DLT, group Arndt showed a significantly attenuated hemodynamic response to intubation (blood pressure, 149±31 vs. 115±16 mmHg; heart rate, 86±15 vs. 68±15 bpm), less severe injuries to the bronchus (injury score, 1.4±0.2 vs. 0.4±0.1) and vocal cords (injury score, 1.3±0.2 vs. 0.6±0.1), and lower incidences of post-operative sore throat and hoarseness. Furthermore, the novel combination of the Arndt and the LMA ProSeal showed similar ease of airway establishment, comparable ventilation and oxygenation performance, and an analogous lung isolation effect to DLT. The novel combined use of the Arndt endobronchial blocker and the LMA ProSeal can serve as a promising alternative for thoracic procedures requiring one-lung ventilation. The less traumatic properties and equally ideal lung isolation are likely to promote its use in rapidly spreading minimally invasive thoracic surgeries.

[Multidisciplinary approach to treating life-threatening massive hemoptysis]

Massive hemoptysis is an alarming event in which asphyxiation due to aspiration of blood is the main threat. The differential diagnosis taking into consideration a wide range of potential causes is required, and in 5% to 20% of cases, the reason for bleeding is never established. Hypoxemia and rebleeding are the main life-threatening complications. We describe the case of a 68-year-old man with no relevant medical history whose massive hemoptysis and complications were treated successfully by a multidisciplinary team.