Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
The most recent articles from:
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol
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The surgical requirement for thoracoscopy is a good view of the contents of the thorax. This is achieved by capitalizing on natural consequences and the skills of anaesthesiologists to produce a pneumothorax and collapse the ipsilateral lung--a process that is commonly enhanced by insufflating carbon dioxide. Insufflating CO2 to actively promote lung collapse creates the dynamics of a tension pneumothorax. ⋯ The mechanism is not defined but it differs from that associated with thoracotomy. Epidural analgesia and opioids may be required. Chronic pain syndromes have been described as complications.