Background: Thoracoscopic resection is the standard of care for congenital lung malformations (CLMs) in infants. However, there is rising concern that capnothorax may affect cerebral perfusion and oxygenation, carrying potential long-term effects on neurodevelopmental behavior. The aim of our study was to investigate, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the regional cerebral oxygenation (CrSO2) in infants undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection; the secondary aim was to assess the relationship between rSO2 and standard monitoring. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed all infants (<1 year old, ASA II) who underwent thoracoscopic CLM resection in double-lung ventilation under fixed capnothorax parameters (5 mmHg of pressure, 1 L/minute flow), standardized anesthetic protocol, standard monitoring, and multisite NIRS in our center. We focused our attention on 8 anesthetic and surgical maneuvers, potentially affecting tissue oxygen saturation. Results: Ten infants met the inclusion criteria. At surgery, median age was 5.5 (4-7) months, median weight 7.2 (6.6-8) kg, median operative time 110 (55-180) minutes, and median capnothorax duration 79 (34-168) minutes. No conversion to open surgery occurred. CrSO2 values remained within clinically accepted values during thoracoscopy, beside a CrSO2 drop >20% of basal value in 1 patient, during capnothorax induction. Renal NIRS added very little to standard monitoring, which appeared generally inadequate to consistently appraise end-organ perfusion. ETCO2 best correlated with CrSO2 variations, suggesting to be able to realistically predict them. Conclusions: The thoracoscopic treatment of CLMs under the given conditions appears well tolerated in infants, pending the continuous adjustment of ventilator settings by an experienced anesthetist, confident with NIRS technology.
Keywords: NIRS; congenital; infants; monitoring; oxygen; thoracoscopy.