The effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on the collapsed lung during single-lung-ventilation in patients undergoing robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophageal reseection: pulmonary complications, local and systemic cytokine production.

Esophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity, mainly due to pulmonary complications. During the thoracic phase of (robot-assisted) transthoracic esophago-lymphadenectomy, the right lung is deflated to achieve optimal vision. In an animal model, deflation and reinflation of the lung have lead to increased local and systemic cytokine production. This might be the cause of pulmonary complications. Positive airway pressure on the collapsed lung might lead to decreased cytokine production, resulting in less pulmonary complications.

Continuous positive airway pressure on the deflated lung prevents total alveolar collapse, resulting in less local and systemic cytokine response, causing less pulmonary complications.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to the collapsed lung during single-lung-ventilation vs no CPAP.