Intermittent Positive Airway Pressure to Manage Hypoxia during One-lung Anaesthesia

Abstract

The effect of intermittent positive airway pressure to the non-ventilated lung was assessed in 10 patients who desaturated during one-lung ventilation. Once their saturation fell below 95% they were given a slow inflation of 2 l/min of oxygen into the non-ventilated lung for two seconds. This was repeated every 10 seconds for five minutes or until the saturation rose to 98%, whichever was sooner. The initial mean SpO2, was 89.3% ±4.2%. All 10 patients had an increase in saturation. The mean saturation following intermittent positive airway pressure was 96.5%±1.6% (P <0.0001). Similarly, the mean oxygen tension rose from 67.2∓12.8 mmHg to 98.9±19.8 mmHg. Intermittent positive airway pressure should be considered for patients who desaturate while undergoing one-lung ventilation.