Mechanical Power in One-lung Ventilation

Plain-language summary

Thoracic surgery usually necessitates one-lung ventilation (OLV) to provide surgical access while maintaining adequate gas exchange. However, OLV is associated with an increased risk of PPCs , a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Mechanical power, a composite parameter incorporating tidal volume, respiratory rate, driving pressure, and flow resistance, has been proposed as a key factor influencing ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and postoperative outcome. Understanding the association between mechanical power during OLV and PPCs could provide insights for optimizing intraoperative ventilatory strategies and reducing the burden of PPCs. As OLV inherently alters normal lung mechanics by decreasing functional residual capacity and introducing inequalities in ventilation-perfusion ratio, the complexity of managing mechanical power becomes even more pronounced. Under these altered conditions, the risk of PPC-including atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure-can be significantly elevated. Factors such as ventilatory settings, lung protection strategies, and the duration of OLV play pivotal roles in influencing mechanical power delivery and thereby impacting lung function recovery post-surgery. Current literature indicates a correlation between inappropriate mechanical ventilation strategies during OLV and increased incidence of PPCs. However, there remains a gap in understanding how precisely mechanical power, as a quantifiable measure, influences patient outcomes following OLV. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between mechanical power during OLV and the subsequent risk of PPC. By elucidating these dynamics, the findings may inform clinical practices surrounding OLV management, ultimately improving patient safety and outcomes in thoracic surgery.

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