[Prevention of early respiratory complications in esophageal surgery by ventilation of the independent lungs].

Independent lung controlled ventilation by a double lumen tube has a beneficial effect in oesophagus surgery. Use of a tidal volume and an end-expiratory pressure different for each lung produces a drastic reduction of chest-X-ray abnormalities. In an homogen group of ten patients studied before and treated with conventional respiratory support, chest-X-ray abnormalities were seen in 80% cases. In this group of 34 patients treated with independent lung ventilation the rate of abnormalities is only of 20%. Independent lung ventilation decreases early pulmonary complications in dependent regions of the lungs, and late pulmonary complications in non dependent regions. This form of mechanical ventilation is performed with a "prototype" ventilator of small size, which permits synchronized or independent ventilation of the lungs.