Evone® Flow-Controlled Ventilation During Upper Airway Surgery: A Clinical Feasibility Study and Safety Assessment
Jeroen Meulemans, Alexander Jans, Kristien Vermeulen, Johan Vandommele, Pierre Delaere, Vincent Vander Poorten
Abstract
Introduction: During upper airway surgery in a narrowed airway due to tumor or stenosis, safe ventilation, good laryngotracheal exposure, and preservation of an adequate surgical working space are of paramount importance. This can be achieved by small-lumen ventilation such as High Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV). However, this technique has major drawbacks, such as air-trapping and desaturation in patients with poor pulmonary reserve. Recently, an innovative ventilating system with flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) and a small-lumen endotracheal tube, the Evone (Ventinova, Eindhoven, The Netherlands), was introduced, claiming to counter the drawbacks of HFJV.