Reductions of tidal volume, with subsequently decreased peak airway pressures, may reduce some alveolar inflammatory responses seen with mechanical ventilation.

OLV increases the alveolar concentrations of proinflammatory mediators in the ventilated lung. Both desflurane and sevoflurane suppress the local alveolar, but not the systemic, inflammatory responses to OLV and thoracic surgery.

Large atelectasis in the dorsal part of the lungs was found on the first postoperative day after cardiac surgery. However, there was no clear correlation between atelectasis and measured shunt fraction.

These data indicate that pro-inflammatory reactions during OLV were influenced by the type of general anaesthesia. Different patterns of alveolar cytokines may be a result of increased granulocyte recruitment during propofol anaesthesia.

No abstract

OLV in pigs results in a substantial V/Q mismatch, hyperperfusion, and alveolar damage in the dependent lung and may thus contribute to gas exchange impairment after thoracic surgery.

No abstract

Thiopental and nitrous oxide have immunosuppressive activity. In contrast, sevoflurane may have a beneficial effect by alleviating the immunosuppressive effects of both substances.