Total intravenous anesthesia fails to decrease pulmonary complications after lung resection surgery

The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The study found that there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of PPCs between the volatile anesthesia and TIVA groups.

• Besides PPCs, the study also looked into secondary outcomes, including the length of hospital stay (LOS) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
  
• The TIVA group exhibited a shorter LOS (p < 0.001) compared to the volatile anesthesia group.
• The incidence of PONV was also lower in the TIVA group (4.6%) compared to the volatile anesthesia group (8.2%), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.041).
• No significant differences were observed in reintubation, 30-day readmission, and re-operation rates between the two groups.

However, the TIVA group enjoyed a shorter hospital stay and a lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. These findings suggest that TIVA may be a favorable choice for anesthesia maintenance in patients undergoing lung resection surgery, potentially improving postoperative recovery.

The results of this research provide valuable insights for anesthesiologists and surgeons when selecting the appropriate anesthesia method for lung resection surgery. Future studies may delve further into refining anesthesia practices to optimize patient outcomes during and after surgery.

Reference:

Hsu, F.-K., Cheng, H.-W., Teng, W.-N., Hsu, P.-K., Hsu, H.-S., Chang, W.-K., & Ting, C. Total intravenous anesthesia decreases hospital stay but not incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications after lung resection surgery: a propensity score matching study. BMC Anesthesiology,2023;23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-023-02260-4