Purpose of review: Surgical interventions, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries, are increasingly being performed in the neonatal and pediatric populations. Thoracic anesthesia in infants and children poses special challenges for the anesthesiologist. These include assessment of the patient's clinical condition, obtaining and maintaining single lung ventilation, and maintaining adequate ventilation and oxygenation while the surgery is in progress.
Recent findings: This review will outline the anesthetic management of infants and children undergoing thoracic surgery, including preoperative assessment, and anesthetic induction and maintenance. The physiology and methods of single lung ventilation will be reviewed, including the use of bronchial blockers, Univent tubes and double-lumen tubes. Special considerations for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, pectus repair and mediastinal masses will be discussed.
Summary: These techniques will provide the anesthesiologist with a number of strategies for assessing the pediatric thoracic patient and for managing pediatric single lung ventilation.