Common Pitfalls in Anesthesia for Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery

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.