Pediatric Thoracoscopy and Bronchial Blockers: The Continued Search for the Ideal One-Lung Ventilation.
BACKGROUND
Thoracoscopic surgical procedures in small infants and children require a growing demand for lung isolation in pediatric anesthesia practice.


METHODS
Between January 2006 and September 2014, 16 children underwent thoracoscopic procedures that needed one-lung ventilation using a bronchial blocker.


RESULTS
The thoracoscopic procedure was performed at a mean age of 99 months (range, 6-186 months) and a mean weight of 33 kg (range, 7-68 kg) without any conversion to open surgery in any case. We were able to achieve one-lung ventilation in all patients. The quality of lung deflation was excellent in all patients except in 1 due to malposition of the bronchial blocker, whereas dislodgement of this device occurred in 2 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a bronchial blocker provided a highly effective means of one-lung ventilation for children undergoing the thoracoscopic approach.
1 Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena , Siena, Italy .
Elisa
E
Cerchia
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg , Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France .
Luisa
L
Ferrero
1 Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena , Siena, Italy .
Francesco
F
Molinaro
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg , Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France .
Lionel
L
Donato
1 Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena , Siena, Italy .
Mario
M
Messina
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg , Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France .
François
F
Becmeur
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D061887:Conversion to Open Surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D061810:One-Lung Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*