Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) is a novel ventilation method with promising first results in porcine studies as well as clinical trials. A more efficient and maybe lung protective ventilation strategy would be crucial in the challenging situation of one lung ventilation during thoracic surgery, when the whole gas exchange has to be provided by just one half of the lungs. It could not only improve respiratory values, but also decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, which is a major cause of death after thoracic surgery.~Thus, individualized FCV, based on compliance guided pressure settings, will be compared to best clinical practice pressure-controlled ventilation in thoracic surgery requiring one lung ventilation in a randomized controlled trial. Based on a previous preclinical trial improved oxygenation will be expected and thus arterial partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) is the main primary outcome parameter of this study. Furthermore, improved recruitment of lung tissue due to controlled expiratory flow in FCV will be anticipated without the need of recruitment maneuvers, which may cause deleterious effects on lung tissue.
This trial investigates effects of individualized (by compliance guided pressure settings) flow-controlled ventilation compared to best clinical practice pressure-controlled ventilation in thoracic surgery requiring one lung ventilation.