Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effect of intrapulmonary pressure monitoring (IPM) combined with the pre-thoracotomy lung collapse technique (PTLCT) in thoracoscopic surgery.Methods 96 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II patients, aged 30~79 yr, BMI < 30 kg/m2, underwent elective thoracoscopic left lung surgery, were randomized into 4 groups (n = 24): PTLCT group (C group), -5 ~ 5 mmHg IPM combined with PTLCT group (P1 group), -15 ~ -6 mmHg IPM combined with PTLCT group (P2 group), < -15 mmHg IPM combined with PTLCT group (P3 group). PTLCT was treated by using the double lung ventilation with FiO2 = 1.0 and the operative bronchus was blocked before the patients’ change into the lateral position. And after 10 min of one lung ventilation (OLV), the pleura was opened and thoracoscope was put into the chest. P1 group, P2 group, and P3 group were treated by opening the pleura when intrapulmonary pressure was -5 ~ 5 mmHg, -15 ~ -6 mmHg, < -15 mmHg based on PTLCT. HR, SBP, DBP, SpO2, and PaO2, PaCO2 were recorded in each group at the time point of after changing position (T0) and before opening the pleura (T1). The operated lung was evaluated using lung collapse score (LCS) immediately after opening the pleura.Results 8 patients in P1 group were failed to complete the preparation of opening the pleura before reaching intrapulmonary pressure; 2 patients in P2 group failed to achieve the required intrapulmonary pressure; 1 patient in P3 group happened hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) during OLV, 2 patients failed to reach the required intrapulmonary pressure. Compared with C group, the LCS of P1 group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and no significant change was found in LCS in P2 group and P3 group (P > 0.05). At T1, compared with P1 group, the SpO2 of P3 group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05); Compared with C group, the PaO2 of P1 group was significantly increased (P < 0.05); Compared with P1 group, the PaO2 was significantly decreased in P2 and P3 group (P < 0.05); Compared with P2 group, the PaO2 of P3 group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).Conclusion IPM combined with PTLCT can avoid lung tissue injury; Opening the pleura at -15 ~ -6 mmHg of intrapulmonary pressure section can not only achieve a good effect of lung collapse, but also maintain good SpO2, which is suitable time for opening the pleura in thoracoscopic surgery.