This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anagnostou, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Anagnostou, J. M. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Common Pitfalls in Anesthesia for Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery

Department of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Over the past few decades, major surgical procedures involving the thorax have become commonplace at most larger medical facilities. Advances in perioperative care have allowed surgeons to perform increasingly complex procedures. These procedures are being performed on more seriously ill patients who are at increased risk for significant complications. Recent advances should help the anesthesiologist avoid some of the pitfalls in managing these complex patients. Preoperative assessment aids in the identification of patients at highest risk for intraoperative and postoperative events. Particular attention is given to myasthenia gravis, as thymectomy is among the most common surgical procedures that are performed in these patients. Aggressive pain control techniques, including neuraxial opioids and patient-controlled analgesia, where appropriate, not only improve patient comfort but can improve postoperative pulmonary function. Advances in techniques for providing one-lung ventilation allow the anesthesiologist more options to individualize management for each clinical scenario. Careful fluid management may help to minimize the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. A basic understanding of video-assisted thoracic surgery should help the anesthesiologist provide optimal surgical conditions and perioperative care. Recent advances demand a greater role for the anesthesiologist if the best outcomes are to be achieved in patients undergoing thoracic procedures.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?