CPAP Effects on Oxygen Delivery in One-Lung Ventilation During Minimally Invasive Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in The Supine Position.

OBJECTIVE

In minimally invasive surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation during video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery, one-lung ventilation (OLV) with a double- lumen tube is commonly employed. In contrast with the majority of thoracic procedures, the patient lies supine; thus, the protective effect of gravity is lost and intrapulmonary shunt remains high. To decrease intrapulmonary shunt and to increase oxygenation, many strategies are utilized: high inspiratory fraction of oxygen (FO), positive end-expiratory pressure on the ventilated lung, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the deflated lung.

DESIGN

The authors performed a prospective, single- center, randomized study to evaluate the effect of additional CPAP in the nonventilated lung on oxygen delivery during surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation via video-assisted thoracoscopy in the supine position.

SETTING

University hospital Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two patients scheduled for minimally invasive surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation.

INTERVENTIONS

The patients underwent pressure-controlled ventilation, adjusting inspiratory pressure to obtain a tidal volume of 7 mL/kg while keeping FO constantly 1.0, a respiratory rate to maintain arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO) between 35 and 40 mmHg, and positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cmHO. During OLV, inspiratory pressure was reduced to obtain a tidal volume of 5 mL/kg, maintaining FO of 1.0, a respiratory rate to maintain PaCO between 35 and 40 mmHg with capnothorax of 10 cmHO. The patients were then randomized into the CPAP group (CPAP 10 cmH0 on deflated lung) and NO CPAP group. Inotropic agents (dopamine or dobutamine) were used if cardiac index fell below 1.5 L/min/m.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were enrolled, randomized, and completed the study. Median age was 62 years. The difference in arterial partial pressure of oxygen between the 2 groups was shy of significance, p = 0.16. Cardiac index progressively increased during OLV until the end of the procedure in both groups (p < 0.01) and was maintained above 1.5 mL/min/m during the whole study time. Arterial oxygen content remained stable during the entire procedure in both groups (p = 0.27). Oxygen delivery index (DOI) increased significantly during the procedure (p < 0.01); nevertheless, the difference in DOI between the CPAP and NO CPAP group was nonsignificant (p = 0.61). Intrapulmonary shunt (Q/Q) increased during OLV (p < 0.01 for the time effect) and remained high until total lung ventilation was reintroduced. No difference in Q/Q was observed between the CPAP and NO CPAP groups (p = 0.98). Similarly, mean pulmonary artery pressure increased significantly during OLV and remained high at the end of the procedure in both groups (time effect p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

During OLV for atrial fibrillation surgical ablation in the supine position, CPAP on the deflated lung seemed to be ineffective to reduce Q/Q or to increase arterial partial pressure of oxygen and DOI, provided cardiac output was maintained above 1.5 L/min/m.