Gas exchange and haemodynamics during thoracotomy

Cardiac index, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, carbon dioxide elimination and ventilation of each lung were studied during thoracotomy. Seventeen patients, placed in the full lateral position, were ventilated mechanically through a Carlens' tube to moderate hypocapnia. Mean cardiac index increased by 12% as the pleura was opened (P less than 0.05), with no further change during surgery on the still ventilated upper lung. Mean arterial pressure was unchanged after opening the pleura, but decreased from 114 +/- 15 mm Hg (mean +/- 1 SD) to 104 +/- 18 mm Hg during surgery on the lung (P less than 0.01). Mean pulmonary artery pressure was unchanged. There was a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in carbon dioxide elimination from the upper lung when the pleura was opened. In addition, the ventilation of this lung increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Mean end-tidal PCO2 of the lower lung increased from 4.1 to 4.2 kPa after opening the pleura, while that of the upper lung increased from 3.0 to 3.6 kPa (P less than 0.01). VD/VT decreased from 43 to 38% as the pleura was opened (P less than 0.01). During surgical handling of the lung, marked decreases in ventilation, compliance, carbon dioxide elimination and end-tidal PCO2 were observed in the upper lung. We conclude that ventilation-perfusion mismatch decreased on opening the pleura, and that neither opening the pleura nor the subsequent lung surgery (both lungs being ventilated) caused any clinically important derangements in haemodynamics or oxygenation.