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Table 37-5

Absolute Indications
Prevent contamination of a healthy lung (abscess, hemorrhage)
Control distribution of ventilation (bronchopleural fistula, bronchial disruption)
Unilateral lung lavage
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Relative Indications
Surgical exposure (high priority)
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Lung volume reduction
  • Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
  • Upper lobectomy

Surgical exposure (low priority)
  • Esophageal surgery
  • Middle and lower lobectomy
  • Mediastinal mass resection (thymectomy)
  • Bilateral sympathectomies