Anaesthesia for thoracoscopy in paediatric patients

Abstract

Modern equipment and surgical techniques have enabled endoscopic procedures in smaller patients, making thoracoscopy a possibility for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, even in very young patients.1,2 (Table I) To understand the perioperative anaesthetic requirements of paediatric patients for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), a review of the physiology of one-lung ventilation in the lateral decubitus position and techniques of lung isolation are imperative. A review of the general considerations of paediatric anaesthetic practice fall outside the scope of this review, but should be kept in mind during VATS procedures in children.