Correlation of Oxygenation and Saturation Indices in One-Lung Ventilation

Overview

One-lung ventilation is commonly used during thoracic surgery but is frequently associated with impaired oxygenation and altered respiratory mechanics. Traditional oxygenation indices require arterial blood gas analysis and do not fully reflect the mechanical stress applied to the lungs. This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the correlation between oxygenation indices and oxygen saturation indices during one-lung ventilation in adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. Modified indices incorporating driving pressure and mechanical power will also be assessed. No intervention beyond standard clinical care will be applied. The findings of this study may help clarify the clinical utility of non-invasive oxygenation indices for intraoperative monitoring during one-lung ventilation.

One-lung ventilation induces complex changes in pulmonary physiology, including increased intrapulmonary shunt and altered respiratory mechanics, which may challenge conventional approaches to intraoperative oxygenation assessment. While invasive oxygenation indices are widely used, their applicability during one-lung ventilation is limited by the need for arterial blood gas sampling and the lack of integration of mechanical ventilation-related stress. Non-invasive oxygen saturation-based indices have been proposed as alternatives; however, data regarding their performance under the dynamic physiological conditions of one-lung ventilation remain scarce. Furthermore, emerging concepts in lung-protective ventilation emphasize the importance of driving pressure and mechanical power as determinants of ventilator-induced lung injury, yet these parameters are not incorporated into traditional oxygenation metrics. In this prospective observational study, invasive and non-invasive oxygenation indices, including modified forms incorporating driving pressure and mechanical power, will be recorded simultaneously during one-lung ventilation in adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. The relationships and agreement between these indices will be analyzed to assess their comparability across different levels of mechanical respiratory load. No intervention beyond standard clinical care will be applied. Ventilatory settings and perioperative management will be determined solely by routine clinical practice. This study is designed to provide methodological insight into the intraoperative applicability of non-invasive oxygenation indices during one-lung ventilation.