What are the indications for one-lung ventilation?

What are the indications for one-lung ventilation?

Indications for double-lumen tubes revolve around the requirements to isolate one lung from the other. Reasons for separating the lungs include prevention of blood or pus spillage; control of ventilation distribution, and improved surgical exposure. Situations in which hemorrhage or infectious material might affect the contralateral lung include bronchiectasis, lung abscess, and hemoptysis. Positive pressure ventilation through a single-lumen tube risks losing large segments of tidal volume through a bronchopleural fistula or pneumothorax in the case of giant unilateral lung cyst. Surgical exposure is improved during pneumonectomy, descending thoracic-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and resection of mid-esophageal as well as upper esophageal lesions. Video-assisted thora-coscopy is a high priority for one-lung ventilation.