Electrical Velocimetry (ICON Cardiometry ) Assessment of Hemodynamic Changes During Pediatric Thoracoscopic Surgery

Advances in endoscopic equipment and technique have led to the use of minimally invasive thoracic surgery in an increasing number of pediatric surgical procedures. Logically, thoracoscopic surgery and anesthesia can induce significant physiologic changes,, derangements of normal respiratory physiology induced by the surgical approach and the installation of carbon dioxide into the thoracic cavity can lead to alterations of normal acid-base status. Finally, surgical procedures in the chest, surgical traction or insufflation pressures impairs venous return and/or cardiac function, especially in neonates and infants. In this study Electrical Cardiometry TM (ICON, Cardiotronic/Osypka Medical, Inc., La Jolla CA, USA) is used assess the effect of different intra-thoracic pressure (insufflation pressures 4,5 \& 6 mmHg) during thoracoscopic surgeries in neonates and infants on hemodynamics using electrical velocimetry (ICON) as non-invasive monitoring technique.