SINGLE LUNG VENTILATION

Course overview

SINGLE LUNG VENTILATION INVOLVES VENTILATING ONE LUNG AND LETTING THE OTHER COLLAPSE FOR PROVIDING SURGICAL EXPOSURE IN THE THORACIC CAVITY OR ISOLATING VENTILATION TO ONE LUNG. THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF THE SINGLE LUNG VENTILATION INVOLVES PROTECTING ONE LUNG FROM THE ILL EFFECTS OF FLUID FROM THE OTHER LUNG - WHICH MAY BE BLOOD, LAVAGE FLUID, MALIGNANT OR PURULENT SECRETIONS. THUS IT IS PRUDENT TO ENSURE PERFECT PLACEMENT OF THE TUBE AS A MISPLACED TUBE DEFEATS THE GOALS OF LUNG ISOLATION OR DIFFERENTIAL VENTILATION. THIS IS ENSURED BY BRONCHOSCOPY DONE AFTER TUBE PLACEMENT AND AFTER ANY POSITION CHANGES THEREAFTER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE TECHNIQUE, INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE PREOPERATIVE WORKUP OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING LUNG RESECTION.