Kuang-Cheng Chan

Feasibility and Safety of Nonintubated Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Geriatric Lung Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND The feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic lobectomy using anesthesia without tracheal intubation for treatment of geriatric non-small cell lung cancer patients is unclear, although it has been used with success in younger populations. METHODS From 2009 through 2011, 84 consecutive patients aged 65 years or older with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy. Among them, 36 patients were treated without tracheal intubation using epidural anesthesia, intrathoracic vagal blockade, and sedation (nonintubated group). The other 48 patients were treated with single-lung ventilation under general anesthesia intubated with a double-lumen tube (intubated group). The perioperative profiles and short-term outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS The 84 patients were a mean age of 73.0 years (range, 65-87 years). Both groups had comparable preoperative demographic and cancer staging profiles. The anesthetic duration of the nonintubated group was shorter. Both groups had comparable operation duration and blood loss. One patient in the nonintubated group was converted to tracheal intubation due to persistent hypoxemia. Postoperatively, the two groups had comparable hospital stays, complication rates, and dissected lymph nodes. Stridor was noted in 3 patients and delirium in 4 in the intubated group, but none occurred in the nonintubated group. CONCLUSIONS Nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy is technically feasible and was as safe as thoracoscopic lobectomy performed with tracheal intubation in the geriatric lung cancer patients. Thoracoscopic lobectomy without tracheal intubation during anesthesia is a valid alternative for managing selected geriatric patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery using internal intercostal nerve block, vagal block and targeted sedation

OBJECTIVES Thoracoscopic surgery using internal intercostal nerve block, vagal block and targeted sedation without endotracheal intubation is a promising technique for selected patients, but little is known about its feasibility and safety. METHODS We evaluated 109 patients with lung (105), mediastinal (3) or pleural (1) tumours treated using non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery. Internal, intercostal nerve block was performed at the T3-T8 intercostal level and vagal block was performed adjacent to the vagus nerve at the level of the lower trachea for right-sided operations and at the level of the aortopulmonary window for left-sided operations. Sedation was performed with propofol infusion to achieve a bispectral index value between 40 and 60. RESULTS Thoracoscopic lobectomy was performed in 43 patients, wedge resection in 50, segmentectomy in 12 and mediastinal or pleural tumour excision in 4. Three patients (2.8%) required conversion to intubated one-lung ventilation because of vigorous mediastinal movement and dense diaphragmatic adhesions. Anaesthetic induction and operation had a median duration of 10.0 and 127.0 min, respectively. Operative complications developed in 13 patients with air leaks for more than 3 days and 1 patient required transfusion of blood products. The median postoperative chest drainage and hospital stay were 2.0 and 4.0 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery using internal intercostal nerve block, vagal block and targeted sedation is technically feasible and safe in surgical treatment of lung, mediastinal and pleural tumours in selected patients.

Propofol attenuates the decrease of dynamic compliance and water content in the lung by decreasing oxidative radicals released from the reperfused liver.

BACKGROUND: Remote pulmonary injuries after hepatic reperfusion are frequently caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage. The choice of anesthetics may affect the balance between oxidants and antioxidants, and propofol, a commonly used anesthetic, has an antioxidant effect. In this study, we developed a model to study pulmonary function with hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) manipulation, with the aim of defining remote pulmonary dysfunction after hepatic reperfusion and determining if propofol affects this dysfunction by altering ROS production from the liver or lungs. METHODS: Adult male rats weighing 160–250 g were randomly divided into four groups according to the type of surgery (sham or I/R) and the anesthetic administered (pentobarbital or propofol). To induce I/R, the portal vein and hepatic artery to the left and medial lobes of the liver were clamped. All of the measurements were done after 5 h of reperfusion, after 45 min of ischemia. Pulmonary function after hepatic I/R was determined by dynamic compliance, resistance and wet-to-dry ratio, and by histopathology. Hepato-cellular injuries were confirmed by alanine aminotransferase, whereas ROS production was measured from the inferior vena cava, jugular vein, and carotid artery. Products of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbiturate acid reactive substances and malondialdehyde, were measured in lung and hepatic tissues. RESULTS: Remote lung injury after hepatic I/R was shown by a significant decrease of Cdyn, and increases in resistance and the wet-to-dry ratio. ROS production was significantly increased and was highest in samples from the inferior vena cava. Thiobarbiturate acid reactive substances and malondialdehyde in the liver and serum alanine aminotransferase were significantly increased only in the I/R+pentobarbital group. All of the changes were significantly attenuated in the I/R+ propofol group (P = 0.05). With propofol infusion, there was decreased ROS production from the reperfused liver, with less hepato-cellular injury, followed by well-maintained pulmonary function. CONCLUSION: Remote pulmonary dysfunction and reperfusion injury in the liver were demonstrated in our rat model, as well as massive ROS production and lipid peroxidation. Propofol infusion attenuated remote pulmonary injury by lessening oxidative injury from the reperfused liver.

Upper Airway Obstruction After Cervical Spine Fusion Surgery: Role of Cervical Fixation Angle

Upper airway obstruction is one of the life-threatening events in cervical spine surgery. The risk is particularly great during the period immediately after operation. We present the case of a 56-year-old female with breast cancer and metastasis to the cervical spine. The surgical procedure involved C2-C3 laminectomy, posterior fixation (C0-C5), and C2 neurectomy. Tracheal extubation was carried out in the intensive care unit, and upper airway obstruction immediately followed. Emergency cricothyrotomy was performed under well-managed ventilation with a laryngeal mask after several failed intubation attempts. Over-flexion of the cervical spine fixation and severe prevertebral soft tissue swelling were the most probable causes of upper airway obstruction. With a well-adjusted angle for fixation of the cervical spine under fluoroscopic guidance before the procedure, such a surgical mishap could be avoided. Reintubation with a fiberscope might be considered first, and sustaining intubation for 2-3 days postoperatively could be safer in such high risk patients.

Iatrogenic Left Internal Iliac Artery Perforation During Lumbar Discectomy

Iatrogenic intra-abdominal vascular injury can result from lumbar discectomy via the posterior approach. Although it is well known and documented in the literature, few anesthesiologists have personal experience with this life-threatening incident. Here, we report a patient who sustained perforation of the left internal iliac artery at the L(4-5) level during posterior lumbar discectomy. The patient experienced refractory hypotension with tachycardia at the end of surgery, even with prompt fluid resuscitation and medical treatment. Abdominal distension and tenderness of the left lower abdominal quadrant were also noted. Emergency laparotomy was performed by the consulting vascular surgeon and revealed perforation of the left internal iliac artery. The vascular injury was successfully repaired. It is important that, as anesthesiologists, we must be aware of this potentially fatal complication. Prompt diagnosis and immediate laparotomy to control hemorrhage can result in favorable outcomes.

Nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer using epidural anesthesia and intercostal blockade: a retrospective cohort study of 238 cases.

AbstractIntubated general anesthesia with single-lung ventilation has been considered mandatory for thoracoscopic lobectomy for nonsmall cell lung cancer. Few reports of thoracoscopic lobectomy without tracheal intubation are published, using either thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) or intercostal blockade. The comparisons of perioperative outcomes of nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy using epidural anesthesia and intercostal blockade are not reported previously.From September 2009 to August 2014, a total of 238 patients with lung cancer who underwent nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy were recruited from our prospectively maintained database of all patients undergoing nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery using TEA or intercostal blockade. A multiple regression analysis, adjusting for preoperative variables, was performed to compare the perioperative outcomes of the 2 anesthesia methods.Overall, 130 patients underwent nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy using epidural anesthesia whereas 108 had intercostal blockade. The 2 groups were similar in demographic data, except for sex, preoperative lung function, physical status classification, and history of smoking. After adjustment for the preoperative variables, nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy using intercostal blockade was associated with shorter durations of anesthetic induction and surgery (P < 0.001). Furthermore, hemodynamics were more stable with less use of vasoactive drugs (odds ratio: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 1.04; P = 0.064) and less blood loss (mean difference: −55.2 mL; 95% CI, −93 to −17.3; P = 0.004). Postoperatively, the 2 groups had comparable incidences of complications. Patients in the intercostal blockade group had a shorter average duration of chest tube drainage (P = 0.064) but a similar average length of hospital stay (P = 0.569). Conversion to tracheal intubation was required in 13 patients (5.5%), and no in-hospital mortality occurred in either group.Nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy using either epidural anesthesia or intercostal blockade is feasible and safe. Intercostal blockade is a simpler alternative to epidural anesthesia for nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy in selected patients with lung cancer.

Effects of eritoran tetrasodium, a toll-like receptor 4 antagonist, on intestinal microcirculation in endotoxemic rats.

ABSTRACT Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotoxin can induce Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and cause microcirculatory dysfunction, which can lead to multiple organ dysfunction. The goal of this study was to investigate whether Toll-like receptor 4 antagonist, eritoran tetrasodium, can attenuate microcirculatory dysfunction in endotoxemic rats. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as follows: control, LPS, and eritoran + LPS. These rats received laparotomy to exteriorize a segment of terminal ileum for microcirculation examination on intestinal mucosa, muscle, and Peyer patch. The rats in the eritoran + LPS group received 10 mg kg−1 eritoran intravenously. The rats in the LPS and eritoran + LPS groups received 15 mg kg−1 LPS intravenously. Microcirculatory blood flow intensity was measured by full-field laser perfusion imager. Total and perfused small-vessel densities, microvascular flow index, and heterogeneity index were investigated by sidestream dark-field video microscope. Our results revealed that eritoran restored the mean arterial pressure. At 240 min, the microcirculatory blood flow intensity was higher in the eritoran + LPS group than in the LPS group as follows: mucosa (1,094 [SD, 398] vs. 543 [SD, 163] perfusion unit [PU]; P < 0.001), muscle (752 [SD, 124] vs. 357 [SD, 208] PU; P < 0.001), and Peyer patch (961 [SD, 162] vs. 480 [SD, 201] PU; P < 0.001). Eritoran also attenuated endotoxin-induced elevation in the serum level of D-dimer. In conclusion, we have established a promising rat protocol to investigate the intestinal microcirculation in endotoxemia. Our data indicate that eritoran can reduce microcirculatory dysfunction in endotoxemic rats.

Does targeted pre-load optimisation by stroke volume variation attenuate a reduction in cardiac output in the prone position

The prone position can reduce cardiac output by up to 25% due to reduced preload. We hypothesised that preload optimisation targeted to stroke volume variation before turning prone might alleviate this. A supine threshold stroke volume variation of 14% in a preliminary study identified patients whose cardiac outputs would decline when turned prone. In 45 patients, cardiac output declined only in the group whose supine stroke volume variation was high (mean (SD) 5.1 (2.0) to 3.9 (1.9) l.min−1; p < 0.001), but not in patients in whom it was low, or in those in whom stroke volume variation was high, but who received volume preload (p = 0.525 and 0.941, respectively). We conclude that targeted preload optimisation using a supine stroke volume variation value < 14% is effective in preventing falls in cardiac output induced by the prone position.

Application of Pulse Contour Cardiac Output (PiCCO) System for Adequate Fluid Management in a Patient with Severe Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema

We report a case of severe reexpansion pulmonary edema that occurred immediately after reinflation of a collapsed lung by rapid negative pressure drainage of prolonged malignant pleural effusion and pneumohemothorax. Although hemodynamic stability was difficult to maintain under aggressive treatment with inhalation of nitric oxide, inotropics and prostacyclin infusion, conventional pulmonary artery catheterization was not adequate for surveillance and adjustment of fluid therapy. For balancing the preload and the extent of pulmonary edema, pulse contour cardiac output monitoring using a single transpulmonary thermal dilution technique was applied to achieve optimal cardiac preload for organ perfusion and to prevent worsening of pulmonary edema from fluid overload.

Delayed onset of contralateral pulmonary edema following reexpansion pulmonary edema of a collapsed lung after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

This case report describes a 61-year-old man who developed reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) of the collapsed left lung after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery because of left thoracic empyema, complicated with secondary contralateral pulmonary edema later. The left lung was gently reexpanded after surgery under one-lung ventilation anesthesia for 2.5 hours. The patient developed RPE of the left lung immediately after surgery, and required mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure support. RPE was resolved within 24 hours. Nevertheless, delayed onset of contralateral pulmonary edema manifested on chest radiography 4 days later without clinical symptoms such as tachypnea or dyspnea. There was no evidence of pulmonary infection, fluid overload, postoperative renal insufficiency or cardiogenic onslaught. Late manifestation of contralateral pulmonary edema in the wake of previous left-sided RPE was suspected from exclusion of possible culprits. Response to steroid therapy made inflammation-related pulmonary edema a likely diagnosis. This case demonstrates that delayed contralateral pulmonary edema with only radiographic evidence can emerge 4 days after resolution of RPE of a collapsed lung. Methods to prevent RPE and management of one-lung ventilation are described.