Flow Controlled as Compared to Pressure-Controlled Ventilation for One-Lung Ventilation During Thoracic Surgery

Intraoperative ventilation during thoracic surgery, especially one-lung ventilation (OLV), is technically demanding. Altered respiratory mechanics force the use of high inspiratory pressures, alveolar recruitment maneuvers, and high fractions of inspired oxygen. Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) may help overcome these limitations by promoting more effective and homogenous alveolar recruitment and improving gas exchange. We report three patients undergoing thoracic surgery, where FCV maintained stable ventilation during OLV without the need for repeated recruitment maneuvers, improved gas exchange, and stable hemodynamics. The observations suggest that FCV may provide advantages over conventional ventilation as pressure-controlled ventilation, in thoracic surgery.