title: Anaesthetic agents for thoracic surgery:  what's best?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumonectomy is still associated with a 5% 30-day mortality in a large series involving a variety of anaesthetic agents and techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As well as the immediate 'anaesthetic' complications of pain, nausea and vomiting and respiratory dysfunction, differences between anaesthetic agents have emerged in systemic inflammation, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, immune suppression and cell signalling after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No one anaesthetic agent has emerged as best. There is a trade-off between initial success and long-term problems or vice versa.
authors.affiliation: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK. duthie@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: David J R
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duthie
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods*; D000777:Anesthetics; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D058926:Intraoperative Awareness / Q000139:chemically induced; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D009609:Nitrous Oxide