Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of different end-inspiratory pause (EIP) and ratio of inspiration to expiration (I: E) on respiratory function in patients undergoing thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation (OLV). Methods A total of 60 patients undergoing thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups:patients receiving I : E of 1 : 2 group (group A), and patients receiving I : E of 1 : 1 group (group B) (n = 30). Inside each group, patients were randomly divided into 2 subgroups (subgroup A1, A2 and B1, B2) (n = 15). Patients in subgroup A1 were ventilated for 30 min with EIP in order of 0%, 10% and 20%. Patients in subgroup A2 were ventilated for 30 min with EIP in order of 0%, 20% and 10%. Patients in subgroup B1 were ventilated for 30 min with EIP in order of 0%, 10% and 20%. Patients in subgroup B2 were ventilated for 30 min with EIP in order of 0%, 20% and 10%. Hemodynamics, respiratory parameters and arterial/central venous blood gas were recorded at baseline (T1), 30 min (T2), 60 min (T3), and 90 min (T4). Results Patients in both group A and group B with the EIP of 20% experienced downregulated levels of arterial CO2 partial pressure and the dead space rate compared with that in groups of the EIP as 0% and 10% (P < 0.05). Ppeak and Pplat were significantly decreased while pulmonary dynamic compliance was increased in group B when compared with group A (P < 0.05). Conclusion For patients undergoing thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation, EIP of 20% and I : E of 1 : 1 is more appropriate for CO2 exchange, reduction of dead space rate and airway pressure and improvement of pulmonary dynamic compliance.