Abstract
Background:Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is usually performed with general anesthesia and single lung ventilation. However, performing thoracic surgery under awake anesthesia has several potential advantages including avoidance of airway trauma associated with endotracheal intubation and single lung ventilation.
Objectives:The study was aimed to analyze the feasibility, safety, and early results of awake thoracic surgery in patients who underwent videothoracoscopic pulmonary resection.
Methods:In 2012, four patients underwent VATS wedge resection via thoracic epidural anesthesia for both diagnostic and therapeutic indications.
Results:listed
Conclusions: In our study, awake pulmonary videothoracoscopic wedge resection was easily accepted and well tolerated by patients resulted in shorter ICU stay. Large scale randomized controlled studies are needed in order to refine our findings.
- © 2013 ERS